“It appeared the superintendent and board members were at least trying to work together in the first two months, but it was a lopsided relationship. A majority of the board dictated changes often driven by campaign promises made during an unusually partisan race. Several members also made it clear they didn’t trust the information they were getting in response to their requests.”
That blurb is from Tim Simmons who’s writing in yesterday’s Wake Education Partnership Newsletter about the resignation of Wake County School Superintendent Del Burns. I found much of the phrasing curious. Simmons says a “lopsided relationship” is in part the reason for Burns’ decision. Really? Last I checked the superintendent was an employee of the school board. Since the school board hires the superintendent to carry out the policies and directives of the Board, I’d guess that an arrangement is accurately described as an employer-employee relationship. As such, there is every expectation that the relationship is NOT one of co-equals but of superior-subordinates.
Simmons also claims “a majority of the board dictated changes often driven by campaign promises made during an usually partisan race.” How dare that duly-elected school board tell Del Burns to carry out policies that – at times — differ from his own views! Sounds like Simmons thinks Del Burns should have the opportunity to pick and choose which policies he’ll follow and which board members he’ll listen to –since after all, a member’s election might have been contested or highly partisan.
Silly me. Here all along, I thought the voters were supposed to be in charge.
You missed the last one:
“Several members also made it clear they didn’t trust the information they were getting in response to their requests.”
This phrase can also be referred to as the last 10 years of operation of the Wake School Board.
The trust of the the staff by the voter has ended and, by extension, so to has the majority of the board.