This issue has been hashed out pretty fully, but I wanted to mention one additional point. The Star Trib editorial hit the nail right on the head by putting the blame for this debacle squarely on the shoulders of the School Board. Folks have ranted and raved over the effect that vocal dissenters in the African-American community had on the process. However, the board members should have taken the time and made the effort to ensure their decision was supported (and supportable) by the various groups affected by it. They failed to do so. You don't have to be a psychic to figure out that lots of folks would have opinions about the selection of the superintendent, particularly given Jennings' background and skills.
This leadership failure is not the fault of Staten and co., Dave Jennings or the man on the moon. It rests with the people elected by the residents of this city to do the job. Instead, in one fell swoop, the board seems to have undone years of good will (or at least civility) created by Carol Johnson and made it that much harder to select the kind of competent, qualified candidate able to handle the tremendous challenges facing the Minneapolis district. It's a shame and it didn't have to be this way. Let's hope board members learn from this mistake, not for their own sakes, but for the sake of the thousands of children in the system who depend upon them. Steve Marchese Hale [EMAIL PROTECTED] REMINDERS: 1. Think a member has violated the rules? Email the list manager at [EMAIL PROTECTED] before continuing it on the list. 2. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait. ________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
