Thursday, April 12, 2012

CMS finalists: Video and polls

If you missed the superintendent finalists Wednesday,  Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools has just posted video of the evening forum at Northwest School of the Arts.  Longer interviews with each candidate at the Government Center should be posted Friday,  for those who couldn't watch it live online.

Meanwhile, online polls by the Observer and MeckEd both show Ann Clark as the strong favorite  --  perhaps not surprising, given that the 29-year CMS veteran is the only one well known in Charlotte.  It's worth noting that neither poll determines who gets the job  (that's up to the school board)  and neither stops people from stuffing the virtual ballot box.

That said,  MeckEd,  which launched its poll Wednesday,  had 843 responses at 5 p.m. today,  with 74 percent for Clark.  Ours,  launched this morning,  gave Clark 56 percent of 447 responses.  In both, Reno Superintendent Heath Morrison is running slightly ahead of Memphis Superintendent Kriner Cash.

If any of you tuned in or attended forums,  I'm curious to hear your thoughts on the finalists and the process.

36 comments:

OTE admin said...

Thank you for posting the link to the forum.

Anonymous said...

This has become yet another chapter in the EPIC comedy of how our BOE can completely ruin the actual process of education. WHAT A JOKE......Lets go to Reno????

Anonymous said...

I think choosing Ann Clark as superintendent would go a long way to healing some of the wounds created during the Gorman years. Although she worked closely with Gorman, she has never resorted to the tactics that he employed, and continues to garner respect from most of her colleagues. She is MUCH more knowledgable about education in general and CMS specifically than Gorman or apparently either of her two competitors for the job.

OTE admin said...

Ann Clark seems to be very good. I am also impressed with the fact she worked her way up from being a bus driver and devoted 29 years for CMS. I really hope she gets the job.

Donna said...

I really hope they offer Ann Clark the job. She's a sharp woman, and has worked in CMS for a long time. It would be such a great thing to give someone who really knows the district, and who knows what they are doing, to run the thing.

Donna said...

sorry, *a chance* to run the thing.

OTE admin said...

I don't understand why the board would want to waste taxpayer money and go to Memphis and Reno. They aren't going to learn anything more than what they have now. All they have to do if they really are interested in a resume builder superintendent is just visit the websites and read the local papers.

Frankly, they ought to just pick the obvious choice.

Wiley Coyote said...

I hope the BOE goes to Reno and takes a look around.

What they'll see is a school district that is 53.8% White and 3.8% Black, a huge difference from CMS.

Morrison wouldn't last two years here.

Anonymous said...

Mr. Morrison's comments regarding sending more resources to disadvantaged schools are disturbing. Did he not do his homework and realize that we already have weighted staffing which is creating mega classes in the burbs? Or is he indicating that there should be even greater disparity in funding? We have reached the tipping point in the northern and southern parts of the County.

CMBOE EVADES SPIRIT OF LAW said...

The CMBOE attorney appears to be giving bad advice on the law. The UNC meeting was called for the Board of Education business of the superintendent search. This meeting was only for official CMBOE business. This meeting exemplifies one of CMS core problems; the failure to understand its own role as a member of the larger community. The intentional skirting of the law shows arrogance and distain for the public. "a social meeting or other informal assembly or gathering together of the members of a public body does not constitute an official meeting unless called or held to evade the spirit and purposes of this Article." CMS held this meeting in a way designed to evade the spirit of the law with the support and probable direction of the CMBOE attorney.

Anonymous said...

Ann Clark's comment where "getting a good education shouldn't be about zip codes .." is simply pandering and wrong - yes, it does matter where you live. CMS has tried for countless years by pumping money into the socio-econimcally challenged areas of our city with very few, to no gains. It's not money. It's the parent and the children brought up by the parent (not plural here on purpose). It's the culture; the moocher mentality. There is no work ethic. You cannot buy that, it comes from the desire to succeed. That is what fails. Not the school. 2 + 2 = still 4 no matter where you live. If she thinks bussing is the answer, she is wrong there too. That is the only way to alter the school popoulation by zip code. Can't happen again as it was proved invalid.

That being said, she is still the best candidate - even if she says what certain folks want to hear. The other two are Gorman re-runs and are only here to boost their resume. Send them packing and let's move on.

Anonymous said...

It seems like it would be best for Clark to focus her energy on academics. The Superintendent role is about more than academics. It is about running a 1.2 billion dollar a year government agency holding the largest physical plant in the county. The best option is to have a Superintendent run the district while Clark is blessed with the opportunity to do her academic work without the 1000 problems a day the superintendent has to deal with. Hiring Clark for Superintendent will take away from both her and the community in that her focus will no longer be front line academics… and if it is she will shortchange the taxpayer. This may be more of a business analysis but we have a chance for the Board to think this through and what is good for CMS and the community should be up for consideration.

Anonymous said...

A good academic does not a good CEO make.

Anonymous said...

That the School Board would even consider someone with NOT EVEN ONE DAY OF EXPERIENCE as a Superintendent is utterly disappointing. If Ann Clark wants to become a Superintendent, let her take that position at a small district where newcomers get their feet wet as a Superintendent. CMS is NOT a starter superintendent job. It IS obviously, however, a place for starter Board members - as demonstrated by the total inability to see this.

Anonymous said...

After living 11 years in Charlotte and 5 in Memphis. I would be real worried about hiring Kriner Cash. He may sound good but you need to dig deeper.

Anonymous said...

Morrison's comments when asked about discipline concern me. He said he does not believe in removing kids from schools but instead making schools more welcoming to problem students. He says that misbehaving students often don't feel valued at school and thus they act out. Does he really understand what kind of "problem students" we are often dealing with here?

Anonymous said...

Its hard to separate views on 3 Broadies. Having stated that the BOE already has 5-6 votes to bring in Mr. Heath Morrison from Reno , Nevada. This will also result in a back room deal to bring back busing in some fashion so Richard can get re-elected. It also will bring Morgan the opportunity to shop some CMS services to his Chamber pals that keep him elected. All the while our test scores drop and we continue to fail our children at CMS. Awesome ! Keith W. Hurley

Anonymous said...

Wow!!! I'm not sure who is stuffing the box for Ann Clark but every staff member I know is totally against Anne Clark taking the helm.

Wiley Coyote said...

Washoe County 2010 Census

White persons, 2010 76.9%
Black persons, 2010 2.3%

Keith,

Morrison wouldn't know what busing was if he was riding on one...

If you're going to keep the status quo train moving along, you may as well hire one of the people that helped get you there, Ann Clark.

Anonymous said...

"Shuffling (students) around on a bus may not be the answer."

Judge Manning

Anonymous said...

Wylie, Its not Heath that wants or is for busing. Richard on your BOE wants this to get another 4 year term and $50,000. For his vote to go with D,M,S,L would make 5 a majority. Heath is just a pawn in their game. They know Ann knows too much on them. They cannot take Cash as the place would revolt. Judge Manning certainly will be looking into the matter and I think he should. (busing) I certainly DO NOT BELEIVE in busing students 10 miles with no results. All it takes is the 5 last name letters above plus Richard. Heath will play the political business games that majority wants in a superintendant for the next 3-4 years. This is a HUGE promotion for the young guy and I hope he takes them to the cleaners in negotiations. Of the 3 candidates presented I would go with ANN Clark I just hope we dont lose her over this when she is not chosen. WIth Memphis being such a disaster its Ann vs Heath for all matters. I would call for a rebate from our search firm as this is a average at best attempt to fill this position. Keith W. Hurley

Wiley Coyote said...

Keith,

You seemed to have missed Obama's ruling that LEA's can voluntarily "bus" elementary school students to achieve diversity...

http://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/docs/guidance-ese-201111.html

Anonymous said...

Case in point Madison Park in Charlotte is bused to Harding High 10 miles away. While this are of charlotte sits 1.5 miles from MPH and SM CMS send them 10 miles away. Result Very few people with children buy homes in Madison Park. They will say its not busing rather reducing the number of children in certain schools on FRL. To even the field a dream of Richards and buys him a pension for 4 more years. Keith W. Hurley

Anonymous said...

You all might want to watch a video of Tuesday's West Charlotte Breakfast forum with three school board members talking to the group about the process. Mary McCray warns that there are rumors and misinformation out there. Not sure what she's referring to but comments from Mary, Ericka, and Joyce might be instructive.

http://www.tueforumclt.org/NewsPages/12Q2/120410CMS.htm

Anonymous said...

They are whining , because they cant have their candidate. Its become a war folks and 5 have saddled up. Ericka and Mary created this mess. Now they can find their way out. Have the 3 of the call KOJO and do a march or something.

Anonymous said...

I still get a chuckle out of busing talk in CMS. The student assignment revolt/disaster that will happen wil be unheard of in this town. Secondly, there are not that many pockets of white only left to bus into urban schools to bus some urban students out to suburban schools. The hilarious thing will be is that it is solely for show and will only hurt any education of the urban students. They wil be lost in the over 35 student classes and will be so far behind that their behavior will only destroy the school lmuch like the kids have done form West Charlotte who were sent to North Meck.

Anonymous said...

I watch the Tuesday forum video. At the end of the video, what was the guy's problem with using the Parrish Hall at St. Peter's? He has an allergy to a private school?

Anonymous said...

You think these BOE folks are afraid to do a little busing? They dont even care about a open meeting law thats been on the books for decades. And dont forget folks we just added 2 staff members to our PR department. So this is the 3rd meeting of the year in question and we ask the County for more money. I think we need a new lawyer if anything. Keith W. Hurley

Anonymous said...

Keith....You didn't get elected, why do you keep referring to the BOE as WE. You and Wylie need to take you negative attitude train to another station and go pitch your far-fetched conspiracy theories somewhere else. You both clearly know enough to start your own school system, and have more than ample time to run it since you both post nonstop on every article ever written about CMS.

Anonymous said...

4:08 and your name is? A conspiracy would be lacking in facts see google. You are correct I did not get elected due to a large minority turnout after the BOE closed their schools. I cannot blame them for that. As a WE I am a $50,000 plus tax payer in this great County we live in annually. Thats property taxes and thats about 25% of the amount I have created. I have children (3) in the CMS system today. I support my schools and teachers. Buy a iPad or get CMS to lend you one ! Keith W. Hurley

Anonymous said...

10:33 If I could understand a sentence that Joyce said I would watch the video. Not much coming from this meeting , but 3 minority women on a rant since they are not getting their way. The other side has formed and they are not going to get a vote passed (3) so its gonna be a tough 4 year term.

Anonymous said...

Kriner Cash is your/our BEST choice. Memphis is at a total lost for words over thoughts of loosing him....

Anonymous said...

Keith, Kojo is swaggering with his designees on the BOE now. If the guy from Memphis is not a slam dunk, he will threaten to embarass Charlotte in front of the DNC and the uptown power brokers will begin swinging their weight on the other board members.

Have a nice day.

Anonymous said...

Thank God for people like Keith and Wiley....we appreciate them!

Anonymous said...

Ann is Gorman... If she disliked him she would have left.. Shes a downtown girl.... she stirs the koolaid...

Anonymous said...

Well, it may be understandable why ProAct pushes certain candidates for superintendent positions around the country...how easy to generate business for its major money generator, synesi, their consulting firm. They probably told morrison not to worry, they would come in and help him run cms. Look at Synesi's client list.

http://www.synesiassociates.com/about/

http://proactsearch.com/management-team/