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Monday, April 30, 2012

Education / City And Then There Was One

Posted by Goldy on Mon, Apr 30, 2012 at 10:51 AM

My colleagues and I at last week's interviews with the Seattle Public Schools superintendent finalists had our theories about why the district split us into three 15-minute slots, not the least of which being that the district was afraid a media free-for-all might scare some finalists off.

Well, if that was the strategy, it didn't work. Over the weekend two of the three finalists—Sandra Husk and Steven Enoch—have withdrawn their names from consideration. That leaves only Jose Banda in the running.

Banda was my favorite of the three for reasons that had more to do with personality than with experience or ideology. I just think that he's the one who offers the most promise at building consensus and stability, two things the district desperately needs.

But it's a little disturbing that Seattle is finding it so difficult to attract candidates for its top posts.

UPDATE: On KUOW this afternoon, School Board president Michael DeBell revealed that Banda was kinda-sorta unofficially offered the job last night, whereas Husk didn't drop out until this morning. So perhaps her withdrawal was more face-saving than anything else. Not that there's anything wrong with that.

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I am thankful Ms. Husk sought opportunities elsewhere.

Posted by Keister Button on April 30, 2012 at 10:57 AM

Yes, that seems to be odd, that the "desirable" city of Seattle is less and less able to bring in the top drawer people...they used to climb walls to get here.

Posted by Supreme Ruler Of The Universe

on April 30, 2012 at 11:05 AM

"Withdraw" is a euphemism for "they told me I wasn't going to get the job so I could make up some BS excuse for why I was no longer interested."

Posted by bigyaz on April 30, 2012 at 11:19 AM

@2 that was back when the state fully funded education as our constitution requires.

Posted by Will in Seattle

on April 30, 2012 at 11:42 AM

Seattle School Superintendant is turning into one of those cursed jobs; when was the last time we had a Superintendant that didn't die in office or resign amid flames of scandal?

Posted by Dropout Mom on April 30, 2012 at 12:05 PM

Holy crap! That leaves only my first choice! Either that means Banda is secretly in league with the Ed Reform gang, or the search is about to be re-started on some pretense...

Posted by ScrawnyKayaker on April 30, 2012 at 12:27 PM