Spokane7
52°
January 31, 2012 in City
District seeks input on new Spokane schools chief
Leaders outline hopes for schools’ new chief
While area leaders suggest a variety of traits are needed in the next head of Spokane Public Schools, they all agree that the new superintendent must have one characteristic in particular: innovation.
“Someone who realizes we are at a crisis and that we can’t just keep spending money on a system that’s broken,” said Carol Landa-McVicar, a trustee of Community Colleges of Spokane. Someone, she added, who thinks: “What are we doing wrong? What are we doing right? What can we adopt?”
Spokane Public Schools’ board of directors launched a national search earlier this month to replace Superintendent Nancy Stowell, who is retiring effective June 30. The first of two open forums this week, to give the community a chance to identify qualities they’d like to see in the next superintendent, will be held at 7 p.m. tonight at Glover Middle School.
The search firm hired by the district’s board, Illinois-based Hazard, Young, Attea & Associates, will lead the forums. The names of the finalists are expected to be announced sometime in April, and the new superintendent named in May.
Meanwhile, some community leaders have identified the characteristics they’ll be looking for:
Jenny Rose, Spokane Education Association president
“First thing is the superintendent must be or have been in the classroom, so he or she understands the world of education,” said Rose, who’s been leading the local teachers union since June 2009.
But probably “No. 1 for school district employees is accessibility. They want the superintendent out at their sites, and not formally – someone who just drops by for a visit.”
Other qualities the union thinks are important: visibility in the community and someone who comes from a collective bargaining state.
“A few union members have expressed a desire for a superintendent with fresh eyes, maybe someone outside the district,” Rose said.
Carol Landa-McVicar, Community Colleges of Spokane trustee
“We are not graduating enough kids from high school, and when we do, they are coming to college unprepared, delaying their progression to a higher education degree,” said Landa-McVicar, who has been a trustee for 12 years.
The superintendent of one of the state’s largest school districts needs to be someone who is familiar with all levels of education. “Not just K-12, but kids coming into kindergarten ready to learn and being prepared to move on to higher education.”
The best person for the job will be data driven: “Assess the problems and look at models and strategies to see what’s sustainable.”
Also, he or she “needs to be a good communicator with parents as well as principals, and someone who can collaborate. For example, how do we address the high number of students that are coming into the college who need remedial math?”
Ben Stuckart, Spokane City Council president
“The next superintendent needs to be a visionary,” said Stuckart, newly elected City Council president and former Communities in Schools executive director.
“The person needs to be an independent leader,” he said. “The board needs to set broad policies and let the leader do the work.”
A spirit of collaboration also is important, he said. “I want someone who wants to work with the city because that’s the only way we are going to get through all the paring down.”
Stuckart also thinks the right candidate needs classroom experience. “I think we as a society spend too much time blaming teachers and we need someone who understands what it is like.”
The right candidate will want to make Spokane home, not view the job as a steppingstone or be someone at the tail end of his or her career, he said.
Chris Cargill, Washington Policy Center
“From our perspective the ideal leader is one who empowers their principals. Give them a budget and let them govern their schools the way they see fit,” Cargill said. “Too often we see a top-down approach with the budget. It’s been successful in other school districts, including Baltimore.”
The Washington Policy Center would also like a leader to consider a practice called “fair student funding,” Cargill said, explaining that means each student’s needs are funded rather than districts being given a set amount of money for each student.
Cargill says the right person should be “someone … who will come in with a fresh set of ideas and look at implementing reforms.”
The Washington Policy Center has been critical of administrative pay, but Cargill chose not to comment specifically on salary. “But, like any leader, superintendents should be held accountable for how children perform in their schools.”
Rich Hadley, Greater Spokane Incorporated president
The superintendent fills three primary roles: chief executive officer, executive director of the school board and a civic leader, Hadley said.
“Start with the board; that’s where you set the vision for the organization, so you need someone who has a vision and someone who can collaborate with the board on that vision for the district,” Hadley said. “Then there’s how you bring the vision to reality, what are the objectives. And thirdly is the budget, which should reflect the vision and the plans.”
The right person needs to posses “good interpersonal communication skills and the ability to motivate people toward a vision,” he said. The next superintendent needs to be a community partner and have a good relationship with peers in higher education.
They also “need to be a leader in the region, play a role in the community, know about government relations and understand the goals for the community,” Hadley said.
Regarding superintendent salary, Hadley said, Stowell’s current $216,000 salary is appropriate given that the position is essentially a CEO of one of the region’s largest employers. “A CEO for a company that size would be paid more.”
Recent stories by Jody Lawrence-Turner
Sandpoint High students vandalize school in senior prank May 23, 2012 4- Spokane schools officials’ pay frozen May 15, 2012 18
- Redinger brings fresh direction, expectations to District 81 May 13, 2012 7
- Spokane Scholars Foundation honors ‘community assets’ April 24, 2012
- Schools chief gets pay hike April 24, 2012 15
DickAdams on January 31 at 8:49 a.m.
Regarding superintendent salary, Hadley said, Stowell’s current $216,000 salary is appropriate given that the position is essentially a CEO of one of the region’s largest employers. “A CEO for a company that size would be paid more.”
When I read the foregoing paragraph, the Chamber of Commerce head, Rich Hadley, should be told to butt out. When Hadley offers testimony before the Spokane city council about spending taxpayer money, he reminds me of the “proverbial drunken sailor” adage.
DickAdams on January 31 at 9:00 a.m.
After thought:
Lets not forget school board member, Roco Treppiedi. Why do the voters continue to reelect him? Roco, has done irreparable damage to the city of Spokane, and I thought that Mayor Condon would have fired him and his boss City Attorney Delaney by now. Same ol, same ol. Corruption is alive and well in the Lilac City. It stinks to high heaven.
WillyPeter on January 31 at 10:37 a.m.
Hadley doesn’t have a clue. If private sector employees’ salaries determined what public/government employees should be paid, those soldiers fighting for us in the “sandbox” would be paid about $250,000 each, yearly….just like the co-located contract civilians that perform less dangerous duties.
Or, he could check with the governor, who receives much less than our failing school district superintendent. I guess Hadley thinks the guv should get at least $1,000,000…like the u-dub prez (another struggling public employee) gets. Or a quarter of a mil like the WAZZU and Dawg football coaches.
Getting advice from the SEA union…you gotta be kiddin’! These are the same folks, that in cahoots with District 81, illegally campaigned for their candidate during the last school board election….you can search & find.
And why are we not surprised that enabling emissary, Jody, finds out what suck-up union pol Stuckart thinks…and manages to omit any comment from the Mayor??
The School Board? PC policy wonks …led by their chief ‘I may any day now be indicted by the feds’ Rockin’ Roco T.
Sorry, folks. If you’re looking for better days in School District 81’s future…..”far future” is the term you’ll hafta use.
Oh, almost forgot…”it’s all for the kids,” ….of course……:-)
P.P.S. Vote NO!
The_Seer on January 31 at 11:42 a.m.
Here is innovation that will work:
Consolidate all school districts in Washington into one per county. One superintendent. One admin staff. Lay off the thousands of administrators state wide that a move of this sort would impact.
Use the savings to develop educator-led evaluation of teachers which rewards the ones who achieve higher student performance and punishes the lazy and imcompetent to the point of removal from the classroom. In addition, sweeten the salary schedule so that it more closely resembles the salaries of similarly credentialed professionals. This will help attract and retain higher quality talent to the teaching profession which is currently perhaps the biggest probelm with public education: The people who work in it, on average, aren’t all that bright.. Most arrive in the lower third of their entrance class in college.
Jenny Rose: You are done in the next election and you should know that. Keep your head down and mouth shut until then.
Hadley fails to mention the salary for district 81 super exceeds that of every elected official in the state of Washington. Stowell makes more than her publicly elected boss. In addition, CEOs are accountable to their shareholders. Is Stowell accountable to parents of students?
survivalguy on January 31 at 11:47 a.m.
Carol Landa-McVicar, Community Colleges of Spokane trustee
“We are not graduating enough kids from high school, and when we do, they are coming to college unprepared, …” said Landa-McVicar, who has been a trustee for 12 years.
The best person for the job will be data driven: “Assess the problems and look at models and strategies to see what’s sustainable…. For example, how do we address the high number of students that are coming into the college who need remedial math?”
So, that pretty much says it all. It is interesting, however, that you will hear no such discussion from our school board or current crop of administrators. According to them, the reason these are issues, if they are issues (and they will NOT admit such…) are because:
1. The district is full of poor people - poverty rates are high so performance is low. (This is SO insulting, but is a “winning” phrase in the educrat circle…)
2. The district lacks money, education is not fully funded, “mo money, mo money, mo money…
District 81 ALREADY spends more than $11,000 per pupil for just operating costs. Much of that is wasted on administration, and a constant flood of useless curricula and supplementary materials.
3. The district’s approach to teaching everything from math to grammer has not been given sufficent time to work - Obstructionists get in the way of fully implementing this “pedagogical” miracle…
The blatantly ludicrous “discovery” approach to teaching that has disabled an entire generation of children (while making millions for its adherents - to include our hyper-compensated administrators) is a failure. It was destined to fail - but our administration is married to it from an ideological standpoint. Many of them got their Ed (a supposed Doctorate, but really a “pay your fee - get your Ed” program of impoverished academic pedigree…). Many of them make their living at the district pushing this ideology and ensuring that teachers - real teachers - get disciplined if they stray from this ideology.
Anyway, input? The district does not want input on their new superintendent. The district wants only to ensure that whoever is chosen will continue with the ideological-party line, will not repudiate the years of “hard work” misguided (and that’s being charitable…) folks like Tammy Campbell, and the entire Teaching & Learning Department have put into getting us where we are now:
“We are not graduating enough kids from high school, and when we do, they are coming to college unprepared, …” said Landa-McVicar, who has been a trustee for 12 years.
Yep, status quo is what they want. That is why we will spend money - lots of it - to search for Nancy 2.0 - In the process it will LOOK like the board is taking public input, but all they are doing is waiting for Nancy, Tammy, Terren, Rick, Karin, Mark et. al. to tell the board who they are going to select. (Sounds/looks/smells like the board is a rubber stamp for whatever the administration wants - WOW, where have I heard that before?)
Here’s my input, Spokane School Board - Go find a Sandra Stotsky or someone who will enforce a policy that teachers are allowed to teach their students directly. Then get rid of the ideological deadwood. Then get out of the way and let those teachers teach. You’ll be amazed at what our “poor, low income, poverty-stricken” masses can accomplish.
The odds of this happening, of course, are miniscule.
Pigrobin on January 31 at 6:20 p.m.
Stop the presses…I find myself in complete agreement with Seer. I don’t find your position in the least bit radical. If we want good teachers, then have a merit-based pay system. If you build it, they will come. One caveat, there must be some checks and balances when it comes to the superintendents. Not all educators (read career educators with PHD/EdDs) are good leaders. In fact, most I’ve seen are not.
gkambs on January 31 at 6:36 p.m.
Ms. Rose
Must have been a teacher, interpretation: understands how the union works
But probably #1 accessibility, interpretation: union accessibility for their causes
and someone who comes from a collective bargaining state, interpretation: someone who will not change the status quo.
(Strike three your out)
Mr. Stuckart
(Pretty much regurgitates the union’s needs in a little more subtle tone)
Rich Hadley
(Is this guy for real?)
Ms. McVicar
We are not graduating enough kids from HS, no interpretation needed (were #1 in that category)
The ones that do go to college are not prepared for college: FACT Wa state average for remedial math going to community colleges is 46% School District 81 average is 90+% (were #1 again) and finally: he or she needs to be a data driven collaborative communicator.
(We are getting warm)
Chris Cargill
Superintendents should be accountable for how children perform in schools.
(Homerun)
Spokane School District 81 leads the state by virtually every negative measure. We went through this with the school board a few years ago. They spent tens of thousands of dollars on a nationwide search, just to hire from within.
We need:
Someone with a proven track record in student performance.
Someone who is accountable to the students and the parents, not the teachers union, not the current administration and certainly not a union elected school board.
Unfortunately we will not get either with the current system. In short, the levy will pass, we will throw millions more at a broken corrupt system and nothing will change until, the superintendent is elected by the people. But that will never happen, the status quo will make certain of that.
Spokane_Citizen on January 31 at 7:56 p.m.
Hilariously entertaining comments….nooooobody selected will ever meet your demands and expectations……which, in reality, fulfills your need to bitch but actually contribute absolutely nothing regarding real solutions.
survivalguy on January 31 at 8:43 p.m.
@Spokane_Citizen:
“Oh, Arturo, prince of ironies…”
“Here’s my input, Spokane School Board - Go find a Sandra Stotsky or someone who will enforce a policy that teachers are allowed to teach their students directly. Then get rid of the ideological deadwood. Then get out of the way and let those teachers teach.”
/\
That’s me contributing something with real solutions. Sandra Stotsky, or someone like her, would easily meet my “demands and expectations”.
“Hilariously entertaining comments….nooooobody selected will ever meet your demands and expectations……which, in reality, fulfills your need to bitch…”
/\
That’s you contributing, well, nothing…
There are problems, the administration and the board are at the heart of those problems (not the teachers, not the union, not the parents, not poverty - and not a lack of money) - and I and others have offered a path to solutions. You’ve offered, as I noted, nothing but your “amusement”. I’m glad I could amuse you for a moment in your evening.
When you’re done laughing you might consider the eight out of ten Spokane high school students that will require remediation in math before they can continue in their pursuit of education. See if that is “Hilariously entertaining” to you, then offer some direction on the qualities you’re looking for in the next super at the district.
Unless Nancy 2.0 is fine with you, in which case, tell the board that.
Whatever you tell them - realize that it matters not. That decision - what ideology the super must be married to - has already been decided, and your voice means NOTHING to them. This PR piece in the SR by the hack Jody Lawrence-Turner is just that, PR. It is designed to give the appearance that the board wants our input - when what they really want is for things to continue just as they are. The status quo is very lucrative for all concerned - except the children…
Spokane_Citizen on January 31 at 8:50 p.m.
So…’survivalguy’….what it really comes down to is that you’re basically a cheapskate.
survivalguy on January 31 at 9:06 p.m.
@Spokane_Citizen:
“So…’survivalguy’….what it really comes down to is that you’re basically a cheapskate.”
I’m not sure where you would get that idea, I’m not anti-tax, not anti-levy (I’m anti-THIS levy, but that is a different thread and story), I give generously of both my time and money, and I’m engaged in this debate. But whatever floats your boat, frosts your cake…
What I see from you is another post that offers no input on what qualities the next super should bring to the job.
I don’t feel I’m a chepskate, but I am frugal - so I don’t waste money or time. That means I’m done with you if you can’t bring anything worthwhile to the discussion.
Spokane_Citizen on January 31 at 9:20 p.m.
Survivaldude…I was done with you when I read your initial pseudo-intellectual comments regarding the selection process. You’ve really nothing more to offer than the average bozo sitting on the next barstool…..the usual trite simplistic folk nostrums and vague references to supposed conspiracies. People like you are the reason a great many eminently qualified professionals avoid public service.
gkambs on January 31 at 9:56 p.m.
@Spokane_Citizen
If “bitching” as you put it, is your interpitation of the above comments then the only one contributing absolutely nothing regarding real solutions is you. I commented on the answers given in the article and asked nothing more than accountablity to the children and parents.
You can now attack me or offer your input to our search for a new super.
sju on January 31 at 10:00 p.m.
survivalguy - Excellent posts!