Apart from crushing budget deficits, the biggest problem facing Seattle Public Schools is, arguably, the deep and abiding distrust many parents hold toward this district.
That manifests in dwindling enrollments, a lack of belief in managerial competency and ongoing accusations of cronyism.
The traditional tonic is transparency, a willingness to pull back the curtain and show how decisions are made — chief among them now, the hiring of a new superintendent. That person will be Seattle’s fourth leader (including interims) in 10 years.
Yet, despite the widespread expectation that school board members — understanding this moment of crisis — would make their finalists available for public vetting, it is clear there will be no such forum.
Many parents are understandably outraged. But there are some valid arguments for the board’s approach. Not least, the insistence of its search firm that providing confidentiality for candidates would produce a better pool of applicants.
As well, there is the uncomfortable truth that a public process is likely to spark intense lobbying from interest groups, such as the teachers’ and principals’ unions. Keeping deliberations private cuts some of that noise.
It is also worth noting that the school board has made herculean efforts to engage community members at the front end. It collected opinions from more than 3,000 parents, students and staff on essential criteria — as well as deal-breakers — for the district’s new leader and used that information to winnow the original pool of 41 candidates down to two finalists.
Among the top community demands: No current district employees. That immediately eliminated several prospects. Criteria No. 2: Seattle’s new school leader must be currently working elsewhere as a superintendent. No bright-eyed novices who need time to get up to speed.
Board members say they took those guidelines to heart and are thrilled with their finalists. They plan to name their first choice before the school board election next month.
No one could be blamed for cynicism. SPS has a depressing track record of hiring interim leaders in a pinch, then signing those people to multiyear contracts, despite their failure to build the kind of momentum, or even vision, this district sorely needs.
That is not what’s happening here. The Seattle School Board is trying to thread a needle, searching widely and incorporating its community into a decision within uncomfortable confines. They also know that with an election just two weeks away, some directors could lose their seats over anger at this opacity.
At this point, Seattle families have little choice but to hope the right person has arrived, and to believe the school board recognizes them in this moment of greatest need.
