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Some folks would have you believe that Chesapeake is still a sleepy, rural community unaffected by growth, new technology and advances in teaching strategies. These groups and individuals think the School Board should limit its search for a new school superintendent to officials already within the division, within the Chesapeake family.
In this idyllic environment, all that's missing is the one-room schoolhouse with an apple atop the teacher's desk.
It's understandable that a few groups, such as the Chesapeake PTA Council, are waxing nostalgic following the announced retirement of W. Randolph Nichols. He'll step down in June after 15 years as superintendent. He was just the fourth chief of the division in 60 years. He has been a comforting, consistent presence.
Alas, times have changed.
The Chesapeake school division has grown larger, and its 39,900 students are 5,000 more than in 1995. It is now bigger than Norfolk and is the seventh-largest division in Virginia.
There are more schools now than when Nichols took the helm. There are more academies. Testing pressures have increased. With more than 5,800 employees and an annual budget that often hovers around $380 million, someone with a strong financial background and top educational credentials would be a plus.
The size and demands of the division require a broad search, even a national one. The president of the Chesapeake Division of the Hampton Roads Chamber of Commerce said his group favors a national search. So do we.
Surely, there's no harm in widening the pool of candidates. Someone with fresh eyes, experience in other communities and a different philosophy could propel Chesapeake to even greater heights. The school division is one of the chief selling points for people and companies relocating to the area.
Detractors of a broad search say it could be expensive. But even if the fee reaches $50,000, that's only a fraction of Nichols' base salary, which was about $225,000 annually.
Nor does widening the search preclude candidates already working in the school system. However, the School Board should have a chance to evaluate those resumes and qualifications against others from outside the division.
Many people appreciate familiarity, the practice of doing what's always been done in the past. That might have been fine in 1995. Not in 2010.
The School Board should open up the search to get the best superintendent possible, from inside the division or across the country.
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You can have him
Take james merrill from VB schools. We will be happy for you to have him. In fact, it's a package deal. You can have sheila magula at no cost.
Amen.
Amen.
Concur with National Search
There may very well be talented candidates within the ranks of Chesapeake Schools. However it is naive to think that Chesapeake should be the only place to look for a new superintendent. Much has changed in this region over the years. The challenges today are much different than those of 15 or 40 years ago. Cheasapeake was very fortunate and lucky to have back to back superintendents from within the ranks (Dr. Bateman and Dr. Nichols). That is certainly not typical for larger districts. There are firms that specialize in superintendent searches and the costs are more than reasonable given what is at stake. Let the experts do their job. Let them find and present a slate of candidates to the School Board and public for their consideration and selection.
Do as I say, not as I do.
In April, 2008, when Bruce Bradley, president of the Landmark Publishing Group, wanted to relinquish his titles as president and publisher of the Virginian-Pilot, he turned them over to Maurice Jones, his second-in-command as vice president and general manager of the newspaper.
Where was the nation-wide search?
Why didn't Mr. Bradley pay for a nation-wide search for a replacement?
So, someone already in the company was the best choice without looking outside the community?
What happened to "search everywhere?"
What about "fresh eyes, experience in other communities and a different philosophy?"
While I'm not always in agreement with the V-P's positions and philosophy, I think Mr. Jones has done a great job running the newspaper during difficult times for the newspaper industry.
The Key to CPS Success...
The key to Chesapeake's Superintendent search will be buy-in by ALL constituency groups. Nichols has the support of the entire education community, the entire community should be included in the search. The importance of working with employees, parents, the City Council, and the SB, can not be over emphasized. Chesapeake just has to look a little northeast to VB to see how hiring a divise school leader can hurt a system that will take years and years to correct, especially when the process operates in secret.
I have never heard a negative word from any teacher about Dr. Nichols. Many VB teachers rue the day they didn't consider accepting a job with the Chesapeake school system.
Some things will change, no doubt...but, hoefully their new Super can balance the needs of the students, the employees and the schools.
They have reason to worry....but, we can only hope that the citizens will not tolerate anyone who maliciously disrupts the collaborative culture that exists today in the Chesapeake Public Schools.
sure go ahead
Sure go ahead, waste a little more money. The taxpayers have plenty to waste on politics as usual.
That $50,000 would have kept at least one teacher in their job for another year.
Just remember, the people will remember you had money to waste while complaining about cuts.
Let's say you are looking for a school superintendent position.
And you see that that there are openings at both Norfolk Public Schools and Chesapeake Public Schools this year.
After doing a bit of research into the two school systems, you decide to apply for ... .
Interesting question.
I can see pros and cons in applying to either position as well as applying for both.