What's Happening With The School Board?
Well, looks like the school board is determined to pay the Tennessee School Board Association $10,000.00 to find a new Director of Schools for them. This reportedly comes after more broken commitments to locals about the replacement.
Mrs Braden is currently serving as interim director in violation of current residency requirements. While I have no problem with Mrs Braden's ability to serve as interim director I certainly question the decision that placed her in that position while she is not a resident of this county. When she was recommended and that recommendation was challenged by another board member because she does not live in the county, Board Chairman Mike Young made the statement well, "you could throw a rock from this county to where she lives". That may be so, but unfortunately the distance is so great you can not throw a sack of property tax money from her house to this county. Why go through that mess again when the requirements are for the director to be a resident of the county, oh well, it's just a rule.
The bigger question is why was Mr JB Smith offered the job of director with the commitment from the school board that if he did well after six months he would become the new Director? Why would the school board pay $10,000.00 of Giles County tax dollars to a Nashville group to send someone, with more connections to Nashville than to Giles County, down here to be the school director when highly qualified and proven people in the system now could do a more than adequate job? Could it be that with his long success as a principal at one of the tougher schools in the county Mr. Smith just has his priorities in the wrong place? With a history of more emphasis placed on academics than sports has Mr. Smith simply placed himself outside of consideration? It's been reported that the "coaches", one in particular, wants some one as dedicated to sports as was Mr. Jackson, that would be a huge mistake. While I love the competition of athletics I desire an educated populace much more.
It is past time for the school board and the school system to get their priorities straight and create a school system that is both disciplined and productive. I believe that much of the frustration experienced by teachers, and in part the reason for such excessive absenteeism among teachers, is a lack of strong supportive leadership and this conflict of just what is the most important part of their job, to provide a small group of young men and women the opportunity to play ball or provide them the education they so desperately need.
I hope the School Board will reconsider this huge expense, appoint Mr. Smith with a six month probation period and if he works out give him the permanent position, if he doesn't work out then the only thing lost is some time and the process can begin again. What is the rush to make another huge mistake. Get everything in order and do it all by the rules.
Mrs Braden is currently serving as interim director in violation of current residency requirements. While I have no problem with Mrs Braden's ability to serve as interim director I certainly question the decision that placed her in that position while she is not a resident of this county. When she was recommended and that recommendation was challenged by another board member because she does not live in the county, Board Chairman Mike Young made the statement well, "you could throw a rock from this county to where she lives". That may be so, but unfortunately the distance is so great you can not throw a sack of property tax money from her house to this county. Why go through that mess again when the requirements are for the director to be a resident of the county, oh well, it's just a rule.
The bigger question is why was Mr JB Smith offered the job of director with the commitment from the school board that if he did well after six months he would become the new Director? Why would the school board pay $10,000.00 of Giles County tax dollars to a Nashville group to send someone, with more connections to Nashville than to Giles County, down here to be the school director when highly qualified and proven people in the system now could do a more than adequate job? Could it be that with his long success as a principal at one of the tougher schools in the county Mr. Smith just has his priorities in the wrong place? With a history of more emphasis placed on academics than sports has Mr. Smith simply placed himself outside of consideration? It's been reported that the "coaches", one in particular, wants some one as dedicated to sports as was Mr. Jackson, that would be a huge mistake. While I love the competition of athletics I desire an educated populace much more.
It is past time for the school board and the school system to get their priorities straight and create a school system that is both disciplined and productive. I believe that much of the frustration experienced by teachers, and in part the reason for such excessive absenteeism among teachers, is a lack of strong supportive leadership and this conflict of just what is the most important part of their job, to provide a small group of young men and women the opportunity to play ball or provide them the education they so desperately need.
I hope the School Board will reconsider this huge expense, appoint Mr. Smith with a six month probation period and if he works out give him the permanent position, if he doesn't work out then the only thing lost is some time and the process can begin again. What is the rush to make another huge mistake. Get everything in order and do it all by the rules.
posted by Allen Barrett | 5:11 PM
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