As an educator I am interested in and often fascinated by
the ways in which the Buffalo News shapes and influences public opinion. My concern is intensified and accompanied by
disbelief and disappointment when, as a
participant or first-hand observer in a number of the News’ reports, I find
myself at odds with the interpretation of the events as I know them and have
experienced them. Buffalo is probably at
the most contentious time, in our history, in the debate over the future of our
School District and the 34,000 children it serves. An
enlightened, conscientious, impartial and investigative press could bring truth
and objectivity to this debate.
Unfortunately, the polarization of factions trying to
control the Schools extends to the News, which long ago lost the right to claim
that it is a fair and unbiased news outlet.
Too often the stories obfuscate the truth, mitigate the facts in favor
of expressing reporter judgement or are written to sway public opinion on a
particular version of the issue. The
News’ front page education stories often communicate an educational philosophy
that is aligned with the Board majority’s reform agenda targeting “failing”
schools, promoting charter schools as the panacea, school vouchers and more. Unfortunately, Buffalo is not unique with
respect to this mis-use of the “power of the press”. It’s a sad commentary on the loss of
journalistic integrity and ethics, long considered a cornerstone of a
democratic society.
At its May 13th meeting the Board voted to
conduct a “national” search for the next Superintendent. It comes two months after a similar
Resolution from the Board minority was voted down. Before anyone is lulled into a sense of
relief and belief that progress is being made on this critical issue impacting
the future of the District, think again.
While Mr. Quinn offered a Resolution to conduct the search, it was lacking
a substantive plan to guide a comprehensive and transparent process. The
Resolution proposed several “periods” including: “of notice”, “to review and collate resumes, “to
review resumes and select candidates to interview” and “to interview finalists
and select a superintendent”. It’s
appalling and unacceptable that Board members, who’ve been touted for their
business acumen, would offer a vague process for as important a responsibility
as hiring the Chief Education Officer of a billion dollar enterprise. Does this signal that perhaps yet again, five
Board members have selected the next Superintendent?
Let’s be clear, the dialogue about the Superintendent search
and the job posting would not have taken place at this Board meeting without
the intervention of the minority members. Previous requests for a special meeting to
plan the superintendent search have been refused. Therefore, Mrs. Belton-Cottman initiated the
conversation by presenting a PowerPoint of a step-by-step search process. She had previously emailed every Board member
and asked for feedback on the action steps and timeline. Rather than focus on the steps, majority
board members immediately attacked the timeline, projected for a six month process,
as too long. But even before they spoke
on the proposal, their non-verbal communication – they threw the hard copies of
the presentation on the table and wouldn’t view the PowerPoint – spoke volumes
about their disdain and refusal to join in a discussion about how to better
fulfill our fiduciary mandate. Persistence
and insistence on the discussion by the minority led to important compromise
and signs of collaboration.
The News continues to ignore the gross violations of good board
governance, once hailed as a strong suit of the majority members. At the same time they also neglect to credit
minority board members for pushing for a prudent, professional and inclusive
search. Even as we work to move past the
distractions that prevent a focus on student-centered issues, the News
undermines our work and sincerity by labeling minority board members as
supporters of the status quo.
The Superintendent search, including all the associated
activities of the Board, offers an opportunity to hold the News accountable if
it fails to report all perspectives related to this activity. The Board has a legal
commitment to recruit and hire a new Superintendent; its only employee and
arguably the District’s most critical employee.
If past behavior is any predictor of future behavior, the documented
strategy used to hire Mr. Ogilvie and the attempt to appoint a principal as the
new Superintendent, without full Board input should be of grave concern and a
focus of media scrutiny.
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