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Schools

Election focuses school issues

How far should the School Board go? How is the superintendent doing?

By THOMAS C. TOBIN and DONNA WINCHESTER
Published August 5, 2006

Outside, it was a splendid March day - clear, dry, about 72 degrees. Inside, around the School Board table, the heat was on.

Seven School Board members. One superintendent. More than $20-million in budget cuts on the table. A Sept. 5 election on the calendar.

The charged atmosphere yielded a clarifying moment that, five months later, presents a question for each of the 16 candidates in the School Board campaign: Should a board member focus on the inner workings of the district or concentrate more broadly on its direction?

It is a question that has occupied the current board at length and led to feuds.

Linked to that is another question: How well has Clayton Wilcox performed in 21 months as school superintendent?

The clarifying moment came in a late-afternoon exchange March 7. Board members Nancy Bostock, Mary Brown, Carol Cook and Jane Gallucci had concerns about the budget. But they also expressed confidence that Wilcox and his staff had thought through the proposed cuts.

Board members Janet Clark, Linda Lerner and Mary Russell harbored serious doubts. They peppered Wilcox with questions and pressed him to follow their thinking on such matters as how many employees were needed to repair school buses, clean carpets and repair classroom computers.

"How far down does this board go?" an irritated Gallucci asked.

Russell responded: "The purpose of the school board is to check and balance the system."

The same trio that closely questioned Wilcox on the budget cuts later voted against extending his contract by a year. The extension - the second of Wilcox's short tenure - prevailed in a 4-3 vote. Initially a four-year deal through 2008, his contract now extends into 2010.

Wilcox has expressed concern about the election, saying a change in the board's makeup could affect his longevity in Pinellas.

Some candidates say he has done an admirable job and that the extensions add stability to the district. Others oppose the extensions, saying Wilcox has not yet earned them.

Under state law, the school board adopts "policies and procedures," establishes "programs," and sets "priorities." The superintendent oversees district operations and recommends policies, rules and standards to the board. He or she must "advise and counsel" with the board "on all educational matters."

Lerner, who is running for re-election, concedes she got down "in the weeds" on the budget cuts. But she argues: "I'm not going to take a vote on something until I have all the information I need."

All board members cross the line at some point, she says.

"It is a tricky line," says Bostock, who is running for re-election.

Bostock says the current board bogs down when some members ask for information "just to get it," and keep pressing their arguments after a board majority has moved on.

Russell, more than most of her peers, often delves deeper into the inner workings of the district. When the rest of the board resists or wants to go in another direction, her frustration sometimes shows and the atmosphere can turn tense.

A four-year teacher before she joined the board in 2002, Russell says it's a board member's obligation to ask probing questions.

"If the School Board and the superintendent are challenging each other," she says, "then what we roll out to the public is going to be a much better product."

She added: "I know some people say I'm not on target about the board's role, but I am absolutely on target."

Good leaders intuitively know where the line is between stepping on the superintendent's toes and getting the information they need, says Peggy O'Shea, a candidate in the countywide District 3 race.

"The members aren't working together as a body," she says, echoing other candidates. "They need to speak out, but they also need to hear both sides of an issue."

School board issue: The Superintendent

Should the board have extended the contract of superintendent Clayton Wilcox?

At what point does a board member go beyond the oversight role and interfere with the superintendent's job of running the district day to day?

DISTRICT 2

* Nancy Bostock*: Voted for extension. Praises Wilcox for "new ideas," improved communication, "sharpened focus on students," engaging community. ... School Board sets level of service; superintendent decides details of how to achieve that level.

* Chris Hardman: Would have opposed extension until Wilcox showed more progress on morale, graduation rate, teacher pay. ... Board shouldn't micromanage but still have ability to "step in and say, 'wait a minute,' " when necessary.

* Mary Russell*: Voted against extension. Gave Wilcox poor evaluation, saying he wasn't proactive enough, lacked vision, used data "intermittently" and "failed to create a culture of collaboration." ... Board has a responsibility to press superintendent about rationale for big decisions.

DISTRICT 3

* Marti Folwell: Doesn't want Wilcox to be a campaign issue. Board sets policy, but also should know details of how policy affects schools.

* Sean M. O'Flannery: Would have opposed extension until Wilcox showed improvement in budgeting, graduation rate, school safety and building more flexibility for families into choice plan. ... Board's role is to ensure schools are "giving our children a solid fundamental education."

* Peggy O'Shea: Favors extension, saying, "We need the stability and leadership that Dr. Wilcox will provide. ... Good leadership means knowing where to draw the line between necessary and meaningful involvement and micromanaging."

* Anne K. Scofield: Questions why extension was granted "if there is such low morale, and dissatisfaction on the part of the board and the teachers." ... Board members "have the responsibility to research a question at any and all levels they desire to learn the facts to the best of their ability."

* Lewis Williams: Prefers to see several years of performance before a contract extension. ... Board "should not micromanage the superintendent's efforts." Current board, "though well-meaning, spends too much time debating process."

DISTRICT 6

* Jack Killingsworth: Would have opposed extension because it's not "good business practice" to keep the board committed so long. Board shouldn't tell superintendent how to do the job, but has a duty to know details of issues and question him closely.

* Linda Lerner*: Voted against extension, says original contracts should be adhered to. Gave Wilcox passing evaluations. ... Board has an oversight role but sometimes needs to ask detailed questions. Finding the line, she says, is a judgment issue.

* Carl Neumann: Favors extension because Wilcox's first two years were filled with crises and he didn't have time to work on his agenda. ... Superintendent needs "pretty broad latitude" to run the district, "but not without oversight."

DISTRICT 7

* Mary L. T. Brown*: Voted for extension. Gave Wilcox good marks but says he needs to improve morale, student discipline and management style. ... Board should ask questions but not involve itself in "definitive department decisions."

* Jennifer S. Crockett: Would have opposed extension because changes under Wilcox "have yet to yield any measurable results." ... Board sets policy, but sometimes must "examine issues more closely."

* Minetha L. Morris: Favors extension. Says more time is needed before another leadership transition. ... Board hires superintendent to make recommendations. When the two sides don't get along, that "has to be remedied immediately."

n Sheldon A. Schwartz: Favors extension. Says Wilcox needs time to put his stamp on the system and "has proven his ability to act swiftly and properly" to crises. ... Board should look forward, focus on long term while superintendent makes day-to-day decisions.

* Ray Tampa: Would have opposed extension. It's too soon, he says. "We have too many issues that still need serious attention." ... Board is obligated to review how well policy is being implemented but board members can't act like administrators.

* Denotes sitting School Board member.

WILCOX'S BLOG IS BACK

The Classroom, the tampbay.com blog about education in Pinellas County, will relaunch Monday with a new look and some new faces.

Pinellas school superintendent Clayton Wilcox is again is the host, but this year he has company: Harry Brown, the associate superintendent for curriculum and instruction; Denise Miller, principal of Sanderlin Elementary and a teacher since 1979 with an emphasis in special education; and Fred Ulrich, a longtime principal now at Largo Middle School.

You can find it at blogs.tampabay.com/classroom. As always, the most recent posts appear first. But now the bloggers also can assign categories to their posts - middle school, choice, busing, etc. - and readers have the option of narrowing their search to those specific topics.

Finally, users will be required to register with a valid e-mail address before posting a comment on the blog. There is no registration to read the blog or other comments. This extra step could intimidate some from commenting, but it is intended to help the give-and-take be more meaningful.

Feedback is welcome. E-mail Kevin McGeever, the online city editor, at kevin@sptimes.com

[Last modified August 5, 2006, 06:02:24]