Revising what will be shared with superintendent candidates

With some judicious editing, candidates for Wake County schools superintendent will find out what the public thinks about the search process.

As noted in today's article, George Conway, the team leader from Heidrick & Struggles, said participants in the feedback sessions cited improving the public image of the school system as one of the challenges facing the new superintendent. It's part of a report shared with the board's superintendent search committee on Monday.

The report will also be shared with candidates. But some of the wording will be eliminated or modified after board members raised concerns.

Several of the changes were made after concerns were raised by board member Deborah Prickett.

For instance, Prickett questioned the wording about improving the school system's public image. This came after Conway and Dale Jones, a vice chairman of Heidrick, talked about how participants raised concerns about the school system's image at the sessions.

Jones said that people they interviewed said that the school system isn't broken but that public trust has been. Conway added that they weren't necessarily laying it at the feet of the board.

Conway also cited how teachers who met with Heidrick said they were fearful about what could be happening in Wake. He said it struck him as an "undifferentiated fear."

Without "airing public laundry," Conway said they decided to go with the wording about improving Wake's public image.

Conway said that people are seeing the school system in the press in a way they hadn't seen it before. He said they now want a positive public face.

Prickett questioned whether it's a public relations thing.

Conway said that if the wording is confusing they'll take it out of the report.

At Prickett's questioning, the reference to magnet schools will also be removed from the report, The report lists as a challenge "maintains the most effective programs of Wake County, including the Magnet Schools, without compromising a quality educational experience for all students."

Prickett argued that magnet schools might be called something else in other districts. The final report now won't specify examples of effective programs.

Prickett said she was also concerned about the words "improve engagement with County officials" as one of the challenges listed.  Prickett praised Tony Gurley, chairman of the board of commissioners, while citing how the commissioners had recently given the school board the funding it had asked for and approved the purchase of the Rolesville High School site.

Prickett said the wording in the report could be interpreted to mean a negative thing.

Conway said they weren't implying that the school board has a bad relationship with the county. He said they were trying to say the relationship needs to be deepened as the economy worsens.

Conway said they'd work on revising that particular wording.

Some other sections were also questioned by board members but it was less clear what changes, if any, might be made.

School board chairman Ron Margiotta said he's concerned that the list of qualifications for superintendent includes "have a record of bridging achievement gaps." He said that might be construed as meaning only educators should apply.

Jones said that business people and people in the military can demonstrate how they've closed achievement gaps in their fields. Conway said they carefully worded that to not say student achievement gaps.

Margiotta said he agrees with the premise behind the qualification of "have a nuanced understanding of the history and current issues of WCPSS." But he suggested revising the wording because it might deter an applicant who's not from around here.

Board member Debra Goldman, chairwoman of the search committee, said that she was concerned about wording in the challenges section about "ensures all students are prepared for the next level of education." She said that doesn't take into account students in career and technical education who may not plan on going to college after high school graduation.

The whole issue of wording came up because Conway said they wanted to share the report with the candidates. Goldman said the report was envisioned as providing information to the board, not to the candidates.

Conway said the report would help provide candidates with a balanced and "objective voice" about what they face in Wake. He said it won't scare away "seasoned educators" while the firm will also be trying to recruit non-educators.

"This is a hopeful piece," Conway said of the report. "I don’t think people will read it and run away screaming.”

After discussion, the committee agreed to provide a revised report to the candidates. Goldman said they'll leave the wordsmithing for the concerns raised by the board to Heidrick because it's the firm who was in the feedback sessions.