I'll admit my ignorance. After all, when I moved back to Charleston several years ago, it took me a year or so to realize that all of downtown Charleston's schools (of course, with the exception of Buist, which I remembered as a black school) were de facto segregated. Now I've learned more by reading Superintendent McGinley's latest missive on the CCSD website.
According to McGinley's August 15th letter, 34 percent of CCSD's principals are black. That's no surprise for anyone who's been following their musical-chair assignments. What is a surprise is that only 17 percent of CCSD's teachers are black! I just assumed that after segregation ended, their numbers would reflect the racial makeup of the district. Silly me. After all, segregation didn't end.
Don't misinterpret my meaning. I certainly don't believe in quotas, although I detected a whiff of belief from McGinley's stated goals.
I've been educated on how District 20 (on the peninsula) became segregated again. Maybe someone can explain to me why so few teachers in CCSD are black while so many principals are.
Friday, August 15, 2008
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As for musical chairs among so many principals, I'm reminded of that silly 1950's television show, Queen for a Day. Sounds like McGinley, not unlike Goodloe, just keeps moving them in and out so she can say she gave them a chance. I don't think she really believes any of them can do a good job so she just keeps moving them around. In reality, it takes years to find out if a principal is "the right fit". She has no patience and even less faith. But she does seem to have an abundance of poor judgment.
There is a lot to be said about CCSD's recent history from the data we're just discovering.
Kind of weird finding out after a year the real reason Goodloe was offered the gig in Seattle. She was fixing to give McGinley the boot, and the Broad Institute wouldn't let that happen so Maria was offered a job on the West coast. That set the pavement for McGinley's path to the throne. Too bad Charlestonians weren't given the opportunity to know that so we could have sent her packing with Goodloe. She is a mistake
How is the following known?
She was fixing to give McGinley the boot, and the Broad Institute wouldn't let that happen so Maria was offered a job on the West coast.
McGinley and Goodloe got along as smoothly as opposing pieces of sandpaper. That is fairly well known. It seems the Broad Institute makes its name by placing its graduates in high profile positions. Can't tell yet who is supposed to benefit most from this arrangement, but it's definitely not the local school district.
It was reported in the press here just after Goodloe left and McGinley moved up from CAO, Bynum was placed in McGinley's former chair because Broad had gained some sort of leverage with Charleston. This was through what were seen as favors Broad had already thrown to CCSD under Goodloe and McGinley. As for Goodloe about to give McGinley the boot, maybe yes, maybe no, but it was clear the two of them couldn't work much longer in the same organization. To Bynum's credit, it seems he finally called McGinley out for screwing with the numbers and not really improving what was going on in the classroom. Bynum just choose not to take it anymore. Unlike McGinley, Bynum wasn't being groomed to take her place when she leaves. I guess he spoke his mind and left while the going was still good.
Charleston is a bit player in the big school district superintendent market. It's become a waiting room for Broad graduates until they can move on to real jobs in the trophy districts around the country. When McGinley moves on, and she will soon, we need to look seriously at a replacement that knows the community and supports proven success, even if it takes power away from the central office. They will also need to be strong enough to stand up to the backroom politics that have turned CCSD into one hell of a cookie jar for graft and waste.
McGinley hates black leaders with any influence. The recent token principals appointed are just to calm the critics who voiced their opposition to the loss of several popular principals recently.
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