Heidrick & Struggles will have to deal with skepticism from critics of the Wake County school board majority as it recruits candidates for superintendent.
Most of the dozen people at tonight's input session opposed elimination of the diversity policy and dropping the requirement that the superintendent be an educator. This skepticism of the board majority extended to the search process for superintendent.
Willa Allen, a parent of two students, pointed out tonight that Heidrick was only hired by a 5-4 vote to be the search firm.
"They have an agenda they want to push," Allen said of the board majority. "I’m concerned if you’re just trying to fulfill that agenda for them."
Allen said she's worried that Heidrick is "just going to try to make the board majority happy."
George Conway of Heidrick said he understood the skepticism. Despite the vote, he said he feels like they're working for the entire board with the goal of trying to get someone all would be happy hiring.
"The wonderful aspects of the school system will make it possible for us to find a very, very good candidate," Conway said.
Conway encouraged Allen to stay skeptical but remain hopeful.
The skepticism was demonstrated elsewhere in the meeting.
When asked which high school student council presidents that Heidrick had met with, the audience would say "not a magnet" as the school names were recited until Enloe High was mentioned last.
When Dale Jones of Heidrick said they were going to meet with PTA presidents on Wednesday, people asked how those leaders were chosen. He later explained that the meeting will be with the executive board of the Wake County PTA Council, which seemed to satisfy the crowd.
In contrast, Kristen Stocking of the Wake Schools Community Alliance said they assume that the money for the search will be well spent and the best person possible will be picked. She said that one good year from the right candidate will make up for all the money spent on the search.
Comments
Raleigh, N.C. — Boil
Wed, 07/14/2010 - 15:18 — AngelaWRaleigh, N.C. — Boil down what a group of Wake County residents said Wednesday, and they want the next school superintendent to be a healer, an advocate and a leader, preferably with budget savvy and classroom experience.
It also would be good, they said, to be able to use data to shape decisions and to be able to get along with a school board that frequently splits over policy matters and disagrees about how much control it should exert over the operation of the 140,000-student system, the state's largest.
About three dozen people turned out to tell a search firm what it should look for in the person who will be hired to replace Del Burns, the superintendent who resigned earlier this year after he split with the five-member county school board majority over policy changes.
A series of 5-4 votes to shift away from diversity-driven assignment policies and toward community schools – a process that will take more than a year to implement – colored the comments of several people.
The superintendent needs to "know how to not be a puppet of the school board ... but not get fired in the first year," resident Melanie Taylor told Dale Jones and George Conway, consultants from the Washington, D.C., office of search firm Heidrick and Struggles, which has an $80,000-plus contract to help find candidates to be Burns' successor.
Several times during the two-hour session at school headquarters, Conway told the group that the company had not been told to hire a non-educator, but rather to "leave no stone unturned" in finding the best candidates, including any from outside education.
Recent comments by board members had led some in the audience to believe that Heidrick was told to find a business or military leader to run the system.
While some called for competency in running a large-budget organization, others speaking Wednesday disagreed with analogies to running a business.
"Education is not a business in any fundamental sense of the word," Jim Martin, a chemistry professor at North Carolina State University, said. No business tries to make something without control over the raw materials it uses, he said, but a public school system takes "whoever and everyone" who comes and has to try to have them all succeed.
Others advocated more services for disabled and gifted students, and several people called for a superintendent who understands the need for more vocational education for students who are "gifted with their hands" rather than being college-bound.
Samuel Greene of Raleigh, a retired school principal, told Conway and Jones that the next chief executive needs to be able "to bring communities together." The person will, he observed wryly, have to be "almost a bouncing ball," given so many 5-4 votes on the board since four new members were elected in November. They have formed a majority, with Chairman Ron Margiotta siding with them to settle 4-4 splits on several issues.
Speakers almost uniformly wanted someone who has been in education, many of them asking for someone with classroom experience.
"At UPS, everybody's delivered packages" on trucks for some period of time, no matter what their job, because they have to know the basic business, said parent Vickie Adamson. The former director of financial reporting also said the school board has made "novice mistakes" in budget reviews and needs someone who understands the operation of large school systems.
Businesses are worried, some speakers said, that the nationally reported recent divisions over school policy will harm the system, which Conway noted is touted in recruiting workers to the area. Diversity advocates have staged rallies against the changes, and some have been arrested protesting at board meetings.
"This superintendent is going to walk into a hotbed of discontent," parent Ann Sherron told Conway and Jones. A citizen member of the board's Student Assignment Committee that will help craft attendance zones based on the community-schools policy, Sherron said the new superintendent will have to understand that different parts of the county have differing ideas of what "community" is. A big job will be "trying to bring the county together," Sherron said.
Acknowledging that feelings have run high over schools issues in recent months, Conway said he hoped everyone would give the board's eventual choice for superintendent a chance to get known.
Jones told the group that a series of meetings this week with several "stakeholder" groups, including principals, business leaders and student council presidents from the high schools, has left the impression that the school system isn't broken, "but public trust has been broken" for at least some groups.
"We're starting off looking for a 9-0 vote" for a final candidate, Conway told the group.
Conway said the consultants have to finish a series of meetings with individual board members to hear what they would like to see, then will meet again with the school board's Superintendent Search Committee "in the next couple of weeks."
Heidrick and Struggles, he said, is compiling the "competencies" that the various groups have asked to have included in the job description of the next superintendent.
There is no hiring deadline, he said, but he added that it would be helpful if someone could be found to come on board before the end of the current school year next summer so that person could have a chance to see the system in operation.
Would you please cite the
Wed, 07/14/2010 - 15:29 — virginiadareWould you please cite the reference for where this story came from, and when you post the other articles you find? I enjoy reading them but often can't tell who wrote or published them. Thank you!
used to post with links til
Wed, 07/14/2010 - 15:43 — AngelaWused to post with links til they disabled that feature...annoying...
this was from WRAL
Here it
Wed, 07/14/2010 - 16:43 — magnetParentHere it is
http://www.wral.com/news/education/story/7960537/
If it pastes as a link, put your cursor over it, right click and select "Unlink" :-)
Public weighs in on Wake
Wed, 07/14/2010 - 11:29 — AngelaWPublic weighs in on Wake superintendent search
RALEIGH More than two dozen people have showed up for today's public hearing on qualifications for a new superintendent for Wake County Public Schools.
Two representatives from the firm Heidrick & Struggles, which is being paid more than $80,000 for the search, are attempting to make the meeting more informal by taking comments in chairs near the audience, instead of in the board's seats at the school administration building on Wake Forest Road.
Mostly familiar themes are being played out between supporters of the current board's move toward community schools and those who favored the previous board's emphasis on maintaining socioeconomic diversity in each school.
Some speakers insisted that it was important that the person have a deep background in Wake schools history.
"If this person doesn't understand who we are and who we have been ... it's going to be a very difficult thing," said retired teacher Melanie Taylor.
On the other hand, retiree Paul Kretzschmar said, the new leader for the 140,000-student system should be in sync with the new board's direction.
"Being that we have shifted this way and are dealing with neighborhood schools and are getting away from the busing, I think we need someone who has some background in neighborhood schools," he said.
George Conway and Dale Lee, of the search firm, have repeatedly tried to get a dialogue going among the more than two dozen people in attendance, but speakers so far have mostly stuck to prepared remarks.
The meeting will continue until noon today in the board meeting room at 3600 Wake Forest Road.
12 PEOPLE?
Wed, 07/14/2010 - 05:24 — PACK_MIKE77ONLY 12 PEOPLE??? I saw only 7 in the video. Yet you state the "majority" of those present were against the diversity policy change.
The WCPSS was unprecedented in allowing members of the community to show up and give their views on who should be the new leader. Yet only TWELVE(?) showed up!
Mr. Hui, you better go out and get your buddies to show up at the next one. That was pathetic.
Since you weren't there, I
Wed, 07/14/2010 - 07:54 — KeungHui (author)Since you weren't there, I can assure you 12 people were there. Of those there, only two people were supporters of the board majority.
One of the 12
Wed, 07/14/2010 - 12:23 — MissVTuesday night, George Conway and Dale Jones were very attentive listeners. They re-stated comments back to the speakers, to insure that they had been heard correctly.
I sadly realized that many don’t, in my opinion, understand the intricate nature of an executive job search (and neither should they be expected to). Some requested details of the superintendent recently hired in Houston, Texas. Though Mr. Jones indicated that he didn’t have that information with him last night, such questioning persisted. One speaker wants someone who knows Wake County. Another wants him/her to know every aspect of a classroom.
Deeper qualifications, than have been required for the President of the UNC system.
As an attendee, I didn’t realize that one had to register whether or not they are supporters of the school majority. It wasn’t the purpose of the gathering.
Suspicion, skepticism, so what’s new? Negativity sells well to the media. The Wake School Board didn’t dump Del Burns: he dumped Wake County! Such disrespect from him wouldn’t be tolerated by the Raleigh City Council nor the Wake County Board of Commissioners, nor any other elected board, so neither should the Wake School Board.
Whoever accepts the challenge to come to Wake County will have to be a statesman. As I stated last night, s/he will have the most read blog in the State, because its the one medium where one's words can be printed accurately.
Do I support the Wake Co. School Board 'majority'? You bet I do. This is the kind of change we've needed for more than 3 years. - Venita Peyton
Ditto, Miss V.
Wed, 07/14/2010 - 13:56 — petehsThank you for writing up your comments.
It is not an easy scenario to describe, much less truly comprehend. Even when we are genuinely listening and trying to understand the many sides of the issues, we are labeled as "one" or "the other." I do believe that we must keep trying if we wish to see this community come together behind this new leader.
FWIW, I do appreciate the effort put forth by the search committee and hired firm to provide opportunities for input into this complex process. I am keenly interested in hearing more from the various groups and committees who also had the opportunity to participate in an exchange with the search firm this week.
The PR department at WCPSS
Wed, 07/14/2010 - 06:59 — woodstockThe PR department at WCPSS sucks ...something that should be addressed sooner rather than later.
Pr department?
Wed, 07/14/2010 - 07:50 — hmoncelleHarry_Moncelle
Interesting idea woody, how would you fix this problem? Is it more important than providing tools for teachers to assist students and continue to raise student achievement?
Are you saying that WCPSS
Wed, 07/14/2010 - 08:48 — woodstockAre you saying that WCPSS can only focus on one thing? It's either one thing or the other ...you can't do both? You can fix the PR without spending a single extra dime by simply taking some steps to get the message out. Here we are in the midst of a monumental change and getting ready to hire the leader of the nation's 18th largest school system with a billion dollar plus budget and 12 people to show up for a community meeting to aid in the search process. You don't find that odd?
Nope
Wed, 07/14/2010 - 09:43 — hmoncelleHarry_Moncelle
I am asking you what you think we need to be spending our treasure upon, improving PR or providing tools to assist students to improve their academic achievement. I notice you still have not answered the question. If you are unable to answer I understand.
Computer banner notification messages.
Wed, 07/14/2010 - 11:35 — DrActualFactualWhy doesn't the system use the computer banner notification feature to alert parents of important meetings. Granted, this is not a weather emergency but perhaps there could be a non-emergency message delivery feature used at the boards direction to disseminate information that is timely. Harry, I don't think it would cost us much for someone to type in "There will be a meeting Tuesday nite 6-8 and Wed. a.m. 10-12 to discuss suggestions for new Supt. qualifications. If you want any input you have 3 minutes to speak." Push send and distribute message to parents who have signed up for the current "WCPSS notifications" feature.
Or...
Wed, 07/14/2010 - 12:37 — Bob_SconceJust stick it in their twitter stream.
I received an email from
Wed, 07/14/2010 - 12:08 — ksinclairI received an email from WCPSS on July 8th announcing the two meetings with dates, times, locations, etc.
Notification method?
Wed, 07/14/2010 - 12:14 — DrActualFactualVia what distribution list notification category? (Parent member, PTA committee member, special committee member...please specify.) Thanks in advance for your reply.
I signed up for the school
Wed, 07/14/2010 - 13:27 — ksinclairI signed up for the school system's e-newsletter and emergency notification list. There's a link right from the homepage but here's the direct link:
http://www.wcpss.net/signup/newsletters/signup/
I signed up as a parent, but it looks like it's open to anyone. The send emails about closings & cancellations, system updates, some press releases, etc.
LOL Are you kidding? Don't
Wed, 07/14/2010 - 10:11 — woodstockLOL Are you kidding? Don't be so obtuse. We need to do both.
Mr. Hui - why did the audience say "not a magnet"?
Wed, 07/14/2010 - 01:11 — TrailerParkGirl"When asked which high school student council presidents that Heidrick had met with, the audience would say "not a magnet" as the school names were recited until Enloe High was mentioned last."
Why would the audience say "not a magnet"? Did the representatives from H&S ask the audience to tell them whether the school was a magnet or not?
Thanks to everyone for your responses to my question/topic
Wed, 07/14/2010 - 22:53 — TrailerParkGirlIt seemed sort of odd to have an audience "responsorial," so I wanted to understand the context. Thanks to those who were at the meeting and shared their perspective.
Clarification of "not a magnet" comments
Wed, 07/14/2010 - 07:31 — petehsTPG, I asked the question about school representation as a follow-up to another question.
H&S said that they had spoken to many representatives within the school system and community including WCPSS admin, area supers, teachers, WEP, Civitas, the Chamber of Commerce, mayors, etc... AND the student body. They practically gushed about how cooperative and "wonderful" everyone had been in providing their input into the search. Would we have expected anything less?
I requested clarification on the "student body" comment, wanting to know which schools were offered the opportunity to have their students represented. They seemed confused as to why that information might be important to me/us, and I said that we had heard from many students over the last months and the vast majority of them had been from certain magnet schools.
The two women sitting in front of me were obviously frustrated and downright upset that I had made the comment, so when each school was listed, they made a point of saying "not magnet" after each non-magnet school was listed.
What these fine folks neglected to recognize is that student body presidents in no way reflect how well the system is working for its students. And IMO, neither do the Area Supers, WEP, Chamber, Civitas, etc... Teachers? Definitely. But not if they were hand-picked to give a certain viewpoint. My guess is that a dog and pony show was arranged in many cases.
Once again, it appears that the bulk of students and their families whose needs are NOT being met by the system are the ones who were left out of this important discussion.
Pls call me to discuss!
Wed, 07/14/2010 - 14:22 — petehsIf anyone would like to discuss my comments and get more details on last night's or today's meetings (I attended both), feel free to call me anytime at 919-285-3302. I would welcome face-to-face or phone discourse on this one. Having worked in the executive search field, I am particularly interested in this process and H&S's specific approach in handling this challenge.
Kristen
...
Wed, 07/14/2010 - 16:00 — SideburnsI think the whole point of a blog is to publicly share information and opinions on the stated topic -- not teleconferencing.
Not only does she have the
Wed, 07/14/2010 - 21:24 — zandeNot only does she have the courage to publicly state who she is, she also provides contact information. Considering how many people hide who they are on the blogs I commend her. It is easy to sit back and make snarky comments behind the cloak of anonymity. It takes real integrity to do it out in the open. IF more people made their identity known I suspect we would be having more civil and productive conversations.
Many productive connections
Wed, 07/14/2010 - 21:16 — CaryCurmudgeonMany productive connections have been made through this blog. Thank you for sharing your opinion, but Keung sets the rules.
I shared my opinion...
Wed, 07/14/2010 - 19:48 — petehs...but simply choose not to put every single one of my thoughts in writing.
Yes, I agree that the point of a blog is to share information. If it leads to further dialogue, and good heavens, actual productivity, then IMO it becomes truly worthwhile.
Wow, I was unaware that our information had to be shared anonymously and in writing! And I certainly don't recall a rule on this or any blog where we were told not to share our contact information. Keung, am I breaking any rules here?
....
Wed, 07/14/2010 - 23:37 — SideburnsI didn't ask for every single thought. Just some more about that one particular comment. That's fine if you don't want to share with me or the other poster that asked. I understand perfectly.
I don't see there being a
Wed, 07/14/2010 - 21:05 — KeungHui (author)I don't see there being a problem with sharing your contact info provided you're not trying to do so for commerical profit. If some person listed their info to hawk their business then we'd treat it as being the equivalent of spam. As an individual, you're sharing your contact info at your own risk.
"Once again, it appears that
Wed, 07/14/2010 - 12:54 — xmarkspot62"Once again, it appears that the bulk of students and their families whose needs are NOT being met by the system are the ones who were left out of this important discussion."
How do you figure, when all 20 Wake high schools were represented in their discussion? The student body presidents are duly elected -- just like the BOE -- to represent their constituents, so what's your point?
...
Wed, 07/14/2010 - 10:26 — red_balloonWhat these fine folks neglected to recognize is that student body presidents in no way reflect how well the system is working for its students. And IMO, neither do the Area Supers, WEP, Chamber, Civitas, etc..
It shouldn't be this hard to draw up the job description, list of core skills and key result areas. A 360 degree approach to drawing up the job description is time poorly spent.
...
Wed, 07/14/2010 - 10:09 — Sideburns"Once again, it appears that the bulk of students and their families whose needs are NOT being met by the system are the ones who were left out of this important discussion."
How so?
It appeared that they were
Wed, 07/14/2010 - 01:46 — KeungHui (author)It appeared that they were questioning whether Heidrick had only spoken to students at non-magnet schools. Dale Jones from Heidrick said they had spoken with 20 high school student council presidents, or at least the ones who were available. Someone from the crowd asked which ones. When Jones said he wouldn't feel comfortable with mentioning the names of the students, the person said she just wanted to know which schools. Jones pulled out a list and started reading the schools one at a time. As he said each one, several people would say not a magnet. It turned out that Enloe was the last school he mentioned.
Mr. Hui, your speculation is
Wed, 07/14/2010 - 17:06 — askmisterbrownMr. Hui, your speculation is exactly backwards. Thank you, Kristen, for clarifying this. Kristen asked what schools the student representatives were from, because she wanted to make sure that they were not all, or mostly, from magnet schools. This was certainly a fair question, given the predominance of magnet students at recent board meetings. As Mr. Conway read off the names of schools, a couple people stated whether or not they were magnets -- and most were not magnets.
Mr. Hui, this was such an insignificant part of the proceedings that I can't imagine why it is in your post. And in contrast to the title of your post, the meeting was very cordial. Although most in the audience were not supporters of the board majority, most expressed support for the work of the recruitment consultants, and only one focused on skepticism. It was two hours of productive conversation. Many expressed our opinion that experience in education should be a prerequisite, and that the new super should focus on helping disadvantaged students; these opinions were expressed by both supporters of the board minority and supporters of the board majority, in comments Kristen gathered from WSCA folks.
Another major point many agreed on is that the new super needs to be a healer of the divisions in our community, or he or she will be a failure.
My interpretation is that
Wed, 07/14/2010 - 01:44 — red_balloonMy interpretation is that the meetinng was likely attended by magnet parents and the "not a magnet" comment may have been uttered to verify if a magnet school was included. I believe this was done for the benefit of the 'diversity' audience. Unfortunately, it comes across as discounting non-magnet schools so there probably is more to this remark.
"They have an agenda they
Tue, 07/13/2010 - 22:17 — Duhhuh666If you back up a few months,
Tue, 07/13/2010 - 23:41 — danofncIf you back up a few months, your translation is pretty much what got the new board elected, isn't it?
Is acting like the school board has it in for certain families/neighborhoods because they didn't get into magnet school really that much different than claiming it's racism/segregation to go to neighborhood schools that create racially-identifiable high poverty schools?
Both are hyperbolic statements. You just happen to agree with one of them.
In reality, you don't care if there are schools that offer more programs than other schools, so long as you have access to those schools that are offering more.
Dan the know it all
Wed, 07/14/2010 - 06:27 — Duhhuh666You don't know me but yet you know everything!! Thanks for your completely wrong assessment of me. But then again no one knows as much as danofnc. I'll make a deal with you, You speak for you and I'll speak for me.
I am just pointing out childish behavior of those against the current board. This board was elected because people were tired of the policies of the former board and said ENOUGH and went to the polls and voted them out (4 of 4 seats). But the defenders of the old ways don't want things to change so they show up to meetings and have temper tantrums.
well...Duhhuh666...I like
Wed, 07/14/2010 - 11:18 — aquaman4life68well...Duhhuh666...I like how you think. Very well said!!
Danofnc
Wed, 07/14/2010 - 07:12 — stepbystepI appreciate Dan and his comments because he understands the big picture of how our school system works and he understands what impacts individual students, teachers, and schools in the real world. Thank you, Dan for continuing to add thoughtful commentary to this blog!
I agree. Danofnc seems to
Wed, 07/14/2010 - 12:17 — zandeI agree. Danofnc seems to have access to great information and lots of insight. I appreciate those kinds of thoughtful comments on this blog and I wish some others on both sides of the debate would contribute in a more thoughtful manner. Some people just sound like 12 year olds (no insult meant to 12 year olds..)
the boe is driven by an agenda...
Tue, 07/13/2010 - 22:03 — red_balloon... and Willa Allen and others by a unique sense of altruism that seems to be the hallmark of the parades.
Does it really matter?
Tue, 07/13/2010 - 22:00 — AgentPierce"Expressing skepticism" ..... Keung, you wordsmith, you. Its your blog so your headline. Right?
The new board-haters will oppose WHOEVER the "not from around heres" propose. I believe H&S is from Chicago ..... more YANKEES! A composite of the messianic leaders of Earth's five leading religions & Dr. King WILL STILL BE opposed ... because the eeeevil board is proposing them.
Way too many people in this community are invested in keeping this mess a mess for it to clear up. This is like choosing to stay at the beach when a hurricane comes ashore ..... you do so because you like to watch chaos and stuff get torn up.
Interesting point, Agent
Wed, 07/14/2010 - 17:18 — askmisterbrownInteresting point, Agent Pierce, that too many people are invested in keeping this mess a mess. And having attended the meeting last night, and having read Mr. Hui's post, I tend to agree with your implication that Mr. Hui may be one of those who are invested in keeping this a mess. How is his success as a reported measured? By how informed the community is? Or by how many people get fire up and comment on this blog? Unfortunately, it's hard to quantify how well the community is informed, but it is easy to count blog comments. This is a very serious problem.
Good points
Wed, 07/14/2010 - 23:11 — TrailerParkGirlI've previously stated my disappointment in our local media for its tendency to focus on pot stirring rather than informing people. I'm sure there are many positive things that take place in our community, including some that would benefit the community even more if more people know about them. Unfortunately, the media here seems to want to focus on and further encourage the fighting. I find it telling that there was no dedicated post on an Education blog for a ED Student Achievement Task Force meeting given some of the dedicated posts on topics that are less directly linked to education and achievement.
I was on
Wed, 07/14/2010 - 23:28 — KeungHui (author)I was on vacation during the first ED meeting. One of my colleagues covered that meeting. For the second ED meeting it conflicted with the story about Meeker and the potential lawsuit. I think most of you guys would understand which had more immediacy. I have the handouts from that meeting. But it's been kind of busy getting around to posting it. There's still stuff from the June student assignment committee meeting I haven't had time to get to you yet. My primary responsibility is to still to write for the daily paper. As you can tell, maintaining the blog takes a lot of time as well.
Mr. Hui
Thu, 07/15/2010 - 00:43 — TrailerParkGirlI know you don't have the easiest job. However, I would have thought that maybe, just maybe, somewhere in between the posts about the GOP's response to Meeker, multiple posts on GSIW's press releases, what Martinez thinks about Meeker, the GOP's survey about Meeker's comment, multiple posts about what this that and the other church think about changes to the "diversity" assignment policy, multiple posts about what the NAACP has to say about changes to the "diversity" assignment policy, where Cary is on the best places to live list, and what movie GSIW is showing two weeks from now, you might have squeezed in one little post about actual student ACHIEVEMENT issues on an Education blog. Sorry to shout but I'm frustrated about the lack of public focus on achievement issues in this county. It is a bit of sad commentary on priorities. At a minimum, isn't there is a political blog that could give plenty of focus to Meeker and the local GOP drama, leaving perhaps at least a smidgen of room on the education blog for ED student achievement coverage?
I'm sure you realize that media has an incredible power to either negatively influence and divide a community or positively influence and bring together a community. This community is in desperate need of some positive influence and bringing together. But, I know drama sells better.
So....
Wed, 07/14/2010 - 17:27 — Bob_SconceIt's an interesting question -- At what point does blogging simply become stirring the pot?
Are you drunk?
Tue, 07/13/2010 - 23:42 — danofncAre you drunk?
No, why do you ask?
Wed, 07/14/2010 - 02:17 — AgentPierceNo danofnc, why do you ask?