Pro & Con: Outside search needed for next school superintendent

The retirement of Carson City School District's superintendent raises a very important issue for our community - the selection process to choose a replacement. Community confidence that the District and Board are truly working in the best interests of students and public hinges on the selection process being open, thoughtful, fair and transparent.

To do its duty, the board must be fully open to public input and make a concerted effort to solicit potential candidates as widely as possible. Thoughtfulness requires identifying the priorities for the district and the qualities sought in a leader. Fairness (and fidelity to our public trust) demands that the board objectively evaluate qualifications of individuals from both inside and outside of the district. Transparency involves holding several public forums on this topic and proactively surveying the community to determine its selection priorities.

A good example of a school district that embraces these principles is Portland Public Schools, which did a survey, available on its Web site, in hard copy at forums, and distributed by e-mail. The results were incorporated into its superintendent selection criteria. Board director Doug Morgan said, "We want the community to offer their best advice as we tackle the single most important duty of any School Board: hiring a superintendent. What do our schools and our city want and need in our next leader? What is the right combination of knowledge, skills, and leadership experience that will help our schools take the next steps toward excellence for all? These are the questions we want our community to help us answer."

So how does the Carson City School Board match up this challenge, these guidelines and the PPS example? Unfortunately, not very well so far. Superintendent selection was on the agenda for the board's Feb. 12 meeting. It was the last substantive item of a long meeting, and only a few hearty concerned citizens persevered to speak on the topic.

I was concerned by the rush to select someone without criteria or a search, the appearance of prior coordination to that end, and the board's dismissive attitude toward public input. I have nothing but the greatest personal and professional respect for the current district employee under consideration, and I will not be surprised if he is the best applicant. An open selection process may very well confirm him as an excellent choice.

A closed, rushed selection will be a disservice to any superintendent candidate, the district, and the community we serve. We do not need to leave an unnecessary aura of favoritism on a candidate who clearly is deserving of such a position based on his merits. We do need to use this opportunity as a district to question, review, and define our educational priorities. We do need to engage the public to develop citizens' priorities and to demonstrate that your views are not only sought when asking for bond money or electing school board members.

Your next opportunity to be heard on this matter will be during the school board meeting today at 7 p.m. meeting at the Community Center.

• Joe Enge is a member of the Carson City School Board.