Tomorrow the Columbus School Board will discuss their search for a superintendent, something they’ve been doing for more than a year now.
On Thursday at 6 p.m. at Brandon Central Services, the board will meet with consultants from the Mississippi School Boards Association to review candidate resumes and discuss background information. Initially, 10 people applied for the position, but two have withdrawn.
When the board convened March 1 to discuss the first batch of resumes, they decided to reopen the application process until March 22, in hopes of obtaining a broader candidate pool.
From the outset, acting superintendent Dr. Martha Liddell expressed her interest in the job by mounting an ill-advised campaign for the position. Wisely, she’s moderated that effort.
Some have suggested Liddell is predestined to get the job, that the board is only going through the motions.
Previous Superintendent Del Phillips left huge footprints on the school district and the community. Phillips’ ambition was large, his vision broad, and during his tenure here the district embarked upon a range of innovative — and often expensive — programs. In Phillips’ aftermath came the realization that all his innovations can’t be funded.
The Columbus school district may not need another Del Phillips, but it doesn’t need to return to business as usual. It needs another innovator, another take-no-prisoners administrator like Phillips who can generate excitement for the public schools.
As society has changed, public schools have assumed more responsibility for child rearing. Too often school administrators are well-meaning, competent people who follow the regulations, and nothing more. And that is exactly the problem with public education.
We need a leader unafraid to step boldly into the fray. We need an independent thinker and administrator who isn’t afraid to weed out ineffective teachers (rather than the newly-hired ones). We need charisma.
Maybe this is too tall an order. Still, we urge the school board to be bold. This likely will be the most important and far-reaching decision you make as a board member. This is your legacy, our legacy. Make it count.
The Dispatch Editorial Board is made up of publisher Peter Imes, columnist Slim Smith, managing editor Zack Plair and senior newsroom staff.
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 52 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.