Staff
04-24-2005, 06:51 PM
Several cities trying to fill tough schools job
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Our situation is better than in many places seeking superintendent
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FANNIE FLONO
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"There are certain things you can't control. One was the weather, and the other was the school board."
That wasn't retiring Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools Superintendent James Pughsley talking. It was Cincinnati Superintendent Alton Frailey, who last month resigned to accept a job as schools chief of a much smaller system in DeSoto, Tex.
The ink was barely dry on his new contract before he was getting calls from five urban school districts looking for a leader for their systems.
Frailey's story pretty much sums up the reality of urban school superintendents. Their jobs are tough, often exacerbated by fractious relations with school board members. More and more of them are tired of the fray. They're either resigning or getting booted, leaving a dearth of supply for an increasing demand.
We'll soon see for ourselves as CMS begins the search to replace Pughsley, who this week said he would retire by the end of June. Only he knows for sure all the reasons for his abruptly announced departure. But who could blame him if he was simply tired of being perpetually battered from all sides.
With parents, educators, business leaders and politicians angry over everything from school construction needs to discipline problems to lagging academic performance at high schools -- no calm was in view. Every misstep school officials made -- and they made some beauts -- became one more brickbat with which to beat them. Increasingly, their political fumbling and poor communication overshadowed their programs and vision.
Still, for all the challenges CMS faces and the sometimes juvenile way school board members interact with each other and Pughsley, our situation is far better than in many places seeking a new superintendent. We have a system struggling, but not broken. Academic performance is improving, though not as much as desired. And, we still have a community mostly united behind the goal of providing each child access to quality schooling.
http://www.charlotte.com/mld/charlotte/news/columnists/fannie_flono/11458474.htm
http://www.charlotte.com/images/common/spacer.gif
Our situation is better than in many places seeking superintendent
http://www.charlotte.com/images/common/spacer.gif
FANNIE FLONO
http://www.charlotte.com/images/common/spacer.gif
"There are certain things you can't control. One was the weather, and the other was the school board."
That wasn't retiring Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools Superintendent James Pughsley talking. It was Cincinnati Superintendent Alton Frailey, who last month resigned to accept a job as schools chief of a much smaller system in DeSoto, Tex.
The ink was barely dry on his new contract before he was getting calls from five urban school districts looking for a leader for their systems.
Frailey's story pretty much sums up the reality of urban school superintendents. Their jobs are tough, often exacerbated by fractious relations with school board members. More and more of them are tired of the fray. They're either resigning or getting booted, leaving a dearth of supply for an increasing demand.
We'll soon see for ourselves as CMS begins the search to replace Pughsley, who this week said he would retire by the end of June. Only he knows for sure all the reasons for his abruptly announced departure. But who could blame him if he was simply tired of being perpetually battered from all sides.
With parents, educators, business leaders and politicians angry over everything from school construction needs to discipline problems to lagging academic performance at high schools -- no calm was in view. Every misstep school officials made -- and they made some beauts -- became one more brickbat with which to beat them. Increasingly, their political fumbling and poor communication overshadowed their programs and vision.
Still, for all the challenges CMS faces and the sometimes juvenile way school board members interact with each other and Pughsley, our situation is far better than in many places seeking a new superintendent. We have a system struggling, but not broken. Academic performance is improving, though not as much as desired. And, we still have a community mostly united behind the goal of providing each child access to quality schooling.
http://www.charlotte.com/mld/charlotte/news/columnists/fannie_flono/11458474.htm