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02/02/2006: "Our School Superintendent Problems"

I have waited to weigh in on the current Superintendent problems in the Minneapolis Schools. I do not want to sit here, in the comfort of my arm chair and second guess the School Board members who have the awesome responsibility of providing the best quality education they can to all of the students in Minneapolis. I say all, because even those students who attend charter and non-public schools are affected by the policies and funding levels of the Public Schools.

First of all I believe that the Superintendent is important. The thousands of staff, both teaching and non-teaching look to the Superintendents office for leadership and guidance on their day to day decisions. In addition, the non employee decision makers in the area, from state and local elected and non-elected officials, to clergy, non-profit and foundation leaders look to the superintendent as the voice of the school district.

In addition, our part time elected board will tend to micromanage the district in the absence of a strong competent administration. It is far better for professionals to be making the day to administrative calls than elected officials. For these reasons and more I believe that we do need to have a strong competent administration.

As for Supe Peebles. From what I can ascertain, she was an excellent educational leader. She made a real difference in the schools that she identified as needing her hands-on attention. I do not have any inside information about the charges against her, or the result of the investigation, but it appears through rumors and newspaper accounts that the charges were leveled by anonymous critics, and were unable to be substantiated. I would like to believe that the board was responding to more than community and employee pressure in its decision to accept her resignation, but I fear that is the case.

I have no patience for those people who express outrage at the size of the Superintendent’s salary, car, or contract buy out. These people simply don’t understand the real world the schools must operate in. Perhaps in some idyllic fantasy world, everyone would work for subsistence salary, ride bicycles and move to a strange city for a job which doesn’t work out without any compensation, but with the lives of tens of thousands of children at stake, we need to live the world as it is, not as we would wish it to be.

What it comes down to is this. A brilliant creative educator now has a stain on her record. Perhaps she was pressured (or chose) to seek higher administrative positions before she was ready, or perhaps she was just doing what the board asked her to do. More seriously, the Minneapolis Board of Education will have an interim supe for at least a year, more likely a year and half.

I know Bill Green, and think the world of him, and if anyone can peel these lemons and make lemonade, he can. I hope that the rest of the city gives him all of the support and advice that he can. I am looking for the University of Minnesota, St. Thomas, Augsburg, the city, the state, the foundations and the non-profit community to all stand up for him. He is speaking for our children and he will need our help. I for one pledge mine.