Too important for politics
The Monroe City School System has a recent history of failed superintendents.
What’s most disconcerting about Tuesday’s circus of a School Board meeting is the feeling that underneath the shouting and histrionics is that some members of the board seem determined not to extend the contract of a superintendent who has shown some success.
The concern was made manifest in a Facebook posting of board member Brenda Shelling when she claimed it was her intent to take the district back after a federal court filing named board members and the superintendent culpable for failing to meet consent decree deadlines.
“Considering all that is going on with the district ignoring the requirements of the consent decree, I am appealing to everyone to stand up and claim the district for the future of our children,” Shelling said.
Carrick Inabnett, vice president of economic development for CenturyLink, sat through the four-hour meeting and had planned to speak on an executive session item pertaining to Superintendent Brent Vidrine’s evaluation. He said Vidrine has exhibited strong leadership skills first as a principal, now as a superintendent that has contributed to educational excellence for the district. Inabnett said with Vidrine at the helm, the district has raised its ranking by a letter grade and brought ACT scores up to historically high numbers.
As evidence of the growth, Vidrine and curriculum director Cassie Owens updated the board Tuesday on raw test data that showed all of the city high schools have seen increases since the 2013-14 school year.
The Monroe Chamber of Commerce sent a notice to members urging them to attend Tuesday’s meeting, expressing concern about how the actions of the School Board in relationship to Vidrine would affect the community’s future.
It’s obvious community leaders believe there’s a political game afoot to show Vidrine the door, and the wrangling Tuesday gives credence to that notion.
The latest blowup comes as the Department of Justice requests the Monroe City School Board, its members and Vidrine show U.S. District Judge Robbie James why they are not in contempt of court in regard to the consent decree.
According to the motion, the district has failed to meet 18 of 20 deadlines set forth in the consent decree, including failure to: take the required steps to desegregate the faculty, adequately improve the Carroll High School Medical Magnet Program, equalize access to specialized academic programs and provide information and personnel needed to the independent court monitor. The DOJ also filed 32 sealed exhibits in the case.
The DOJ requests that if the board and Vidrine cannot show just cause why they should not be held in contempt, they be granted two weeks to come into compliance. The board on Tuesday gave Vidrine no public opportunity to address the allegations. Vidrine was obviously prepared to address his system’s progress.
The DOJ filing comes as the board is evaluating Vidrine to determine whether to renew his contract. The timing is curious and certainly doesn’t work on Vidrine’s behalf.
What is missing in all of the talk is the children. If the board is to judge Vidrine’s performance based on how well the children are learning, a contract extension should come.
The politics suggest it’s not that clear-cut.
It’s time for individual members of the Monroe City School Board to stop playing politics and determine what’s best for the children in the system.
The community cannot stand still. Much rides on the success of our schools — everything from property values to growth and opportunity in the community. It is time to let individual board members know that our community demands a solid school system.