The process of selecting a new Jefferson City Public Schools superintendent is both surprising and disappointing.
Let us be clear - our comments are aimed at the process, not the person selected.
The selection was made without creation of a search committee and with little public involvement or transparency.
Although these components are not required, they invite public participation.
We expected greater outreach by the Board of Education during the superintendent search, particularly in the wake of recent criticism regarding undisciplined students, demoralized teachers and a disengaged administration. Outreach largely was limited to an online, one-question survey.
Another reason for our disappointment is the school board did not even approach the bar of community involvement established previously by another public entity, Lincoln University.
Our readers will recall that LU formed a presidential search committee that narrowed the field of candidates to three, then invited each to Jefferson City to meet community members during public forums.
Jefferson City formed a similar search committee for a new city administrator, but the selection was finalized without any public forums.
Lincoln University, Jefferson City and the local public school district all are tax-supported entities governed by boards. We believe LU established a standard for selecting its top administrator that deserves to be emulated by others.
Sadly, the bar of public involvement gradually has been lowered.
On a separate, but related, matter, we encourage the seven members of the Board of Education to keep in mind that each was elected independently of their peers.
The notion that the board president speaks for all board members is nonsense. We expect and encourage board members to frame and articulate their own ideas.
When a high court issues a ruling, the majority prevails, but dissent is not squelched.
School board members' emphasis on a unified voice is not comforting; voters elect school board members to bring independent thinking and a diversity of opinion to the group.
The superintendent search process provided an opportunity for the Board of Education to re-engage with the community. Sadly, board members missed the opportunity.