Selection process simply wrong
Published 1:03 am Wednesday, October 20, 2010
The selection process instituted by the Selma City School Board to select a permanent superintendent of education has proven once again the elected body has no concept of time management.
Under the guise of a search firm, an interim place-holder and a commitment to find the best qualified person to lead the city’s school system, the board seems to have quietly bided their time until a state law and a fast-approaching deadline forced them to appoint the person they wanted from the very beginning —Donald Jefferson.
For months, the board squandered $6,000 when it hired an outside search firm and then — either through incompetence or disorganization — decided not to interview any of the five finalists the firm selected.
In a time when school budgets have been slashed by state budget cuts and proration, we have to ask, how many new textbooks could have been purchased for $6,000? How many field trips could have been funded for $6,000? And, how many Marching Saints could have been outfitted for $6,000?
At this point, we are not sure which is worse: that the school board had this plan to hire Jefferson from the beginning, and was smart enough to pull it off, or if the board lacks the knowledge how to properly manage a school system, much less the search for a superintendent.
And, this is not the first time the board has shown a poor grasp of time management.
Does anyone remember the debacle of the proposed property tax hike the board wanted on the Nov. 2 ballot? You should, it was only a few weeks ago.
During that process, board president Henry Hicks and Jefferson were unable to have the measure included on the ballot because of an inability to comprehend the election calendar.
We are aware of Jefferson’s credentials — an earned doctorate, a teacher, a principal and a troubleshooter for school systems over the state — and The Selma Times-Journal will support him in his efforts to improve the educational results of our children. After all, the success of our children is our community’s success.
But the leadership shown so far by this elected school board disturbs us. This board has demonstrated an inability to master even the smallest of details.
At this point, after two failed attempts of leadership, we are angst-ridden at what will happen next.