Electing vs. Appointing our Superintendent of Schools Part I

"We don't need to hire no administrator or no professional staff round here--you only need to vote for me --I'm qualified--I got this--trust me!"  Boss Hogg, Sole Commissioner, Hazzard County Georgia

Should citizens elect, or should the school board appoint, the Superintendent of Escambia County's Public Schools?

This question will be coming on the November ballot for local citizens in Escambia County to decide.

I have long been a supporter of the more modern, efficient, and functional system of having the elected board of education hire the administrator of the schools---as  more than 99% or the rest of our nation's schools already do.

But push back is strong to this concept locally. Or, as Yoda might say "Much resistance to this good idea there is....."

The polling numbers I have seen from last July point to this being quite a challenge.

A recent Facebook video segment on this topic with community leader Quint Studer drew lots of angry, outspoken opponents to this plan.  (anecdotally, the "Likes" tally broke down on that post as follows: 61 thumbs up, 12 angry faces, two hearts, 1 LOL, 1 WOW, and 1 Sad)

So the folks opposed are obviously more vocal and energized in their opposition than those who are supportive of ending the antiquated system locally and moving to a modern, efficient appointment model.  But we got a lot of thumbs up "likes"--way more than the negative responses....

And I will say this:  I have also been able to turn several "No Way!" opinions into "Wow-- I did not know thats".  So in order to pass this, to bring it over the line, it takes one on one conversations with folks.

Because this is NOT an issue, framed by supporters of continuing the status quo, of "Giving up your vote!!"

This is not that.

Because the voters vote for the ones who are in charge, and the ones who are in charge bring in and staff the positions.

As an example--we recently hired a brand new Fire Chief for the County's Fire Service.  Should the board have NOT put out a nationwide call for qualified applicants?  Should we have simply put that position on the ballot and let the citizens choose, or let the 250 local firefighters hold an election to choose a "local" to be the next chief?  If we did that, would we get the BEST fire chief out there?

What about principals of schools?  Why not hold elections among parents and staff of particular schools to fill the principal jobs at such schools?  Would that result in us bringing in the best school


 principals?

The thing is, electing superintendents of schools is old-fashioned, backwards, and it is not the best form of governance for school districts, just like having "Sole Commissioners" (Like Boss Hogg from Dukes of Hazzard was) ---with all legislative and executive  powers to run a county--- is not the best way to have a county run effectively and efficiently.

Elected Superintendents are also on the way out...only two states still have them, Alabama and Florida. Mississippi recently enacted legislation abolishing elected superintendents.  And there are only about 100 elected superintendents left in the nation, out of 15,500 public school districts. The elected superintendent of schools model is antiquated and dysfunctional, just as "Sole Commissioner" types of county governments are......

Unbelievably--Sole Commissioners do exist to this day--but there are fewer and fewer of them left (10 total in the nation, all in Georgia).

And in those counties that have that structure--I bet those folks think such a structure is absolutely proper.  "We want to elect our sole commissioner round here!  Don't give up your right to vote" I could just hear them say.

And Boss Hogg would agree.....