Superintendent Arrives with Baggage

The deed is done. Now Nancy McGinley must deal with the consequences of the CCSD School Board's stupidity.

At Monday night's meeting the Board voted along racial lines to offer McGinley the superintendent's position with a four-year contract, without public discussion, any statement from McGinley or Goodloe-Johnson, or even a salary figure. McGinley, not surprisingly, accepted immediately.

The position of the majority on the board was--trust us, we know McGinley, and she is the best superintendent we will be able to find. In other words, arrogance personified. Can anyone blame Jordan and Green for reluctance? THEY haven't worked with McGinley over the past three or four years. Douglas has, and he voted against McGinley. Unfortunately, the voting results play into the hands of Dot Scott, who deliberately made finding a new superintendent a racial issue.

Meyers, of course, said that speedy action was needed so that CCSD doesn't lose McGinley to another district, citing her making it to the finals for the position in two other cities.

Gregg, she didn't get offered either of those jobs, and you (or she) haven't told us that she is considering another at the moment. Let's get real.

The answer is that the current board has much of its own credibility invested in continuing the policies of Goodloe-Johnson. McGinley was hired by Goodloe-Johnson, and the board wants to continue down that road now that G-J is leaving. If it waited or allowed McGinley to open her mouth prior to the official vote, McGinley might say or do something that would put her selection in jeopardy. The powers that be (including the Metro Chamber of Commerce) were recruited for support.

However, in rushing to judgment, the board has put McGinley's success in jeopardy.

Perhaps you may be wondering how G-J found McGinley for the job as Academic Officer. Simple. That was not a search either. They met while attending the Broad (rhymes with road) Center's program to train urban superintendents (You can check it out at http://www.broadfoundation.org/investments/management.shtml. Goodloe-Johnson probably went there to get out of Corpus Christi, where she knew she would not advance; McGinley probably went there when she realized that she needed further credentials to rise in the hierarchy of the Philadelphia school system. McGinley did not get a job as a superintendent when she left; instead, she was hired by G-J.

Assuming the school board majority adamant in insisting that there be no superintendent search, it still could have compromised by offering McGinley a shorter contract of, say, eighteen months, during which time the community could evaluate her effectiveness. If another job offer came knocking during that time, the board could always meet to revisit her contract, as it did when recently when it lengthened Goodloe-Johnson's (and hers).

As it is, if McGinley has any smarts at all, she will begin by mending fences, especially with District 20. She should continue by asserting her own ideas and airing district policies, particularly in regard to Buist Academy, in order to show that she is not merely a puppet for insiders.

It's time for transparency.