Appointed or Elected if you have a preference ACT NOW

[Pamela Treacy]

Please refer to the News Sentinel story today on B8. I personally don't want an elected superintendent. You can search for all the posts that we have had on this subject. I just sent the following note to the boys in Nashville. This is so underhanded and backwards I am appalled. They say that people support this - I ask --"who have they been talking too?"

I read with surprise and disappointment today that Rep. Nicely received support from Representatives Campfield, Brooks, and Dunn yesterday.

First, why are you singling out Knox County and Jefferson County? If you feel this will improve education why not propose this state wide? Because you know this will not improve education which should be our goal.

You turn the schools into a politic ping pong ball. Shame on you is all I can say. This is underhanded and unprofessional.

Please reconsider your actions. Please do not vote for this amendment again. Vote it down!! It will not make Knox County a better place.

Pamela Treacy
329 Treyburn Drive
Knoxville, TN 37934

God is the Answer. Education is His solution. That is why he sent His son -- a teacher.

Educate each child. Build a nation.

[Lisa Starbuck]

This is crazy. What you are seeing is Knox County Commission trying to run the School Board by getting Frank Niceley to do their dirty work. I am totally opposed to this underhanded attempt to change the law for two counties only - if it has merit, why not change the law statewide? And why the big rush and secrecy? This stinks.

[Pamela Treacy]

There is a small group of politicos behind this. I am extremely disappointed in a few a them -- otheres I would expect it from them. I am most disappointed that Rep. Harry Brooks voted on the amendment yesterday. The entire bill didn't pass so they will attach it to another education bill. This could go on for days. The reason behind this is because the lcoal guy didn't get the job and they think the salary is too high. Then I say vote out your school board, but don't decrease the availalbe pool by requiring they live here before they seek the job.

[Roxy Hodge]

Just a question since I have not followed this as close as others, but must a canidate live here to be voted for? Could they have the same people who were considered this past year on a ballot without living in Knox County or in Tennessee or must they have a residence in the county? As for voting out school board members, some do need to go..away.

[Pamela Treacy]

It's my understanding that you would have to be a resident and seek election like any other office.

[Roxy Hodge]

Thank you for the clairification. That was my understanding as well but just for the record wanted to know if by voting we were limited to local gene pool or if appointed, put it in the hands of a few others to appoint.

[Ed4me]

Below is a copy of an email that contains all Reps. email addresses. Please let them know how you feel about NOT changing the current process.

Information about HB3857. Please call or email the Knox County delegation and urge them to vote "NO" on all amendments permitting elected superintendents!!! The time to take action is now, call or email TODAY!!!

These amendments propose to make an exception to state law pertaining to appointed school superintendents ONLY in Knox and Jefferson Counties and as of late yesterday, Jonesborough, allowing for re-establishment of elected superintendents by a 2/3 majority of the county legislative body (county commission).

It's not too late to call or email Knox County legislators TODAY to let them know that our school superintendent should be a professional educator focused on our children, not a political candidate focused on the next election.

Senator Burchett - 615-741-1766 or [e-mail]
Senator Woodson - 615-741-1648 or [e-mail]
Rep. Brooks - 615-741-6879 or [e-mail]
Rep. Campfield - 615-741-2287 or [e-mail]
Rep. Niceley - 615-741-4419 or [e-mail]
Rep. Tindell - 615-741-2031 or [e-mail]
Rep. Armstrong - 615-741-0768 or [e-mail]
Rep. Dunn - 615-741-1721 or [e-mail]

[Debi]

I am by far up-to-date on this, but here's what I do know. I have preferred an elected position simply because an appointed superintendent, at least with Dr. Lindsey, would not give us parents the time of day. I cannot say how many times I tried to schedule an appointment with him to discuss good and bad issues with KCS, his office constantly refused. The only way to get a superintendent truly open to the public is to make him/her accountable to the public. I know others disagree for a variety of reasons and that's okay, we can all disagree and love each other still.

But, I believe this is possibly why this bill is happening as it is. Because of the unhappiness with Dr. Lindsey, there has been an outpouring from Knox County regarding the issue. Other counties, such as Metro Davidson, have citizens largely satisfied. Therefore, they oppose the right of counties to choose election vs. appointment. So perhaps it's not the elected officials trying to be underhanded as much as it is to help the citizens where they are hearing the most complaints.

My personal opinion is that it should be left up to each county to choose through a vote which way they prefer to select their superintendent, but if they tried to pass a state law allowing each county its own provision, the TEA would flip out, because they actively oppose citizen-control of schools.

We have discussed recently how to get the community involved in schools, here is one way, to give the power back to the citizens to decide how they want to select their school leader. At the end of the day, the law of whether to appoint or elect should be the will of the people, not a few lobbyists, this is why it should be a state/local referendum.

[Beth Love]

Sorry Debi, but this has nothing to do w/education and parental involvement and helping the citizens. This is good ol'boy politics at its best. Some are mad that the superintendent's salary has been set at what it is and that an "outsider" was hired regardless of what is best for the kids.
I've taught under an elected superintendent and an appointed one. If you think an elected superintendent is more "accountable" and accessible, you are dead wrong. The one I worked for was so busy fundraising and campaigning for his next stint, he was never in his office. NCLB has made us lose sight of LEARNING since we are teaching to a test; this will only make LEARNING even more difficult to do in our schools since the super will be a politician and not an educator.

[Ed4me]

Just saw this on KNS website.

Bid to elect Knox superintendent dies in House.

Today, Niceley offered an expanded version that he said would have included Roane, Fentress, Morgan, Overton and Giles counties as well. Legislators representing those counties had asked to be included, he said.

The Thursday attempt came in trying to amend a bill sponsored by Rep. Gerald McCormick, R-Chattanooga. The House wound up voting 50-40 to send the bill back to committee, a move Niceley acknowledged will kill the idea for this year.

Niceley blamed the apparent loss of his support on calls to legislators made between Tuesday and Thursday by school board members, Parent-Teacher Organizations and others.

I guess alot of people prefer "Appointed" Supt. to move this vote.

[Pamela Treacy]

We need to continue to let our voices be heard.

It seems like a small group of people are leading the charge on this. If I thought they represented the majority, I wouldn't mind -- but so far, it seems like more people prefer appointed over elected.

Second a philosophical issue has been raised -- let the people vote. I struggle with that because in many cases that seems the best approach.

But now I am starting to ask when does let the people vote and the purpose of electing officials begin. Have they not been elected to represent us? And after elected, isn't it their job to discern what the people want through phone calls, emails, meetings etc with those people. AND if the people don't like the decisions they make while in office, the PEOPLE should vote them out.

I have been disturbed by those elected who stop listening. That is probably the single biggest difference in an outstanding official/leader and a bad one. The good ones stop talking and listen to their constituents. Test this out yourselves.

Approach your official and discuss an issue. If he listens to you, asks questions -- he probably is a good leader. I learned this from an executive at ABC Television, Bill Burke. He was the President of the Company. I met him at a party to celebrate bringing the NFL to ESPN on Sunday nights. I was a just a sales person at ESPN, but when he met me -- he engaged me, asked me what I thought, what I would do. He didn’t waste the time with polite small talk. Fifteen years later, I still remember most of the conversation.

I am not saying this is easy for a leader to do, because the role changes as you wear different hats. Sometimes, you don't realize you are in the role as leader and need to listen. Other times, you need to be heard.

In this case, the citizen opinions need to be heard. The elected official needs to listen.

[Debi]

Like I said, a lot of us disagree on this, but I stand by my desire to let the public decide how they want to hire their elected officials. My personal desire is to elect them, but I would be satisfied if the will of the people was the other way. I went to school in a county where the super was elected, it was a far better set-up. Maybe you just had an idiot for a super that had nothing to do with the elect/appoint. Obviously there are good ones and bad ones regardless, I tend to believe there are more good than bad from elected.

Yes politics did implement NCLB, but remember, a bunch of doctorates thinking they knew better than the people were the ones who created NCLB, and it's had a lot of wonderful impact in my local school. Since we've failed a number of times the classes are smaller, more staff is present, and parents are required to be involved more often. Without NCLB our school would be ignored because it's low-income. Now the gov is forced to provide things that would have been reserved for Farragut & Sequoyah Hills.

[Deborah Dickerson]

I have to agree with Beth on this. Just because we weren't happy with a particular person doesn't mean the appointment process is flawed. Here's an excerpt of what I wrote to our representatives: "Our education system is flailing, and needs the leadership of trained educators, not any man (or woman) off the street who decides to run and has political connections. I want my superintendent to be focused on our children’s education, not on fundraising and returning political favors. Education is too politicized already; in fact, I’d be in favor of less political interference in education, not more."
I wish I'd thought to put this in the letter, too, but I'd like to add that we already ELECT our school board members, and in doing so have entrusted them with doing what they think is best for our school system. I know that my school board member asked for - and received - input from his constituents during the selection process, so citizens' voices can be heard during the appointment process as well. I think the model of electing a school superintendent worked when people largely stayed in the area in which they grew up after high school graduation; the schools at that time were essentially training students to take jobs in the immediate area, and a local businessman was probably the best judge of what his town needed in the way of education. In today's global economy, we need someone with training in education that can see the bigger (MUCH bigger!) picture. Education is too important to entrust to the person who merely has the best political connections and the biggest campaign war chest.