The DeKalb County school board is making a mess of the search for a permanent superintendent. The state’s third-largest school system is in danger of being leaderless when the interim superintendent’s contract expires in June.
The system is in dire need of a strong, proven leader who can make systematic, meaningful and thoughtful changes to address a myriad of pressing issues.
The lack of a sense of urgency, and the inability to come up with a transparent process, raises questions about this board’s understanding of the challenges facing a system where 11 high schools have a graduation rate of 66 percent or less, and more than a third of all eighth graders did not meet expectations in math on the CRCT.
When Gov. Nathan Deal replaced the former Board of Education, I was pleased. I expected, however, the appointed and newly elected board members would immerse themselves in the history of the school system and strive to learn from the mistakes of previous boards.
However, observing the board during this critical time, I believe history is about to repeat itself. The board is not setting up a superintendent search process similar to the one Atlanta used; that process allowed ample public input and was led by individuals with a long history of civic involvement.
Rather, it seems the DeKalb board is willing to let bureaucrats be involved with the hiring of their own boss. This does not seem like a model for success. Rather, it appears the process is being designed to hire locally. Instead of attracting a nationally — or even a regionally — recognized leader, the process seems to be a repeat of previous superintendent searches gone bad.
Representatives from the regional parent councils in DeKalb came together last year to form a system-wide parents organization called Parent Councils United. At a time DeKalb is literally falling apart, the need for such an organization is critical.
While I am not a member of PCU, I believe its position sums up exactly what needs to happen with the DeKalb superintendent search and why it is so critical corrections in the process be made now. The group believes the public engagement and transparency demonstrated by the formation of an independent superintendent search and selection committee will build a more trusting and inviting environment when we welcome a new superintendent to our community.
PCU has done more than simply issue a statement; it has reached out to DeKalb civic, business and educational leaders, asking if they would serve on a search committee if invited. It is time members of the DeKalb Board of Education show they understand that the “DeKalb Way” so many cling to hasn’t worked out so well. In fact, it might not be misguided to say the DeKalb Way has led to a system that regularly fails students and their community.
I challenge school board members to step back and reassess the superintendent search. Put in a process that is transparent, with a team of civic leaders who can assist in attracting top talent to a system desperate for the right leader.
