This was written and submitted by Dothan City Board Chairman Scott Childers on the recent hunt for a new superintendent.
Many are asking, who are y’all getting for the next superintendent? And what is all the fussing about?
As a school board chairman, I’m just one vote, and it takes four votes for a majority.
Each board member is also entitled to an opinion. Do we gain our opinion from listening to our constituents or do we tell our constituents to listen to us? And do we seek what is right, or do we push for an agenda? These questions quickly propelled our school board into the spotlight of community discussion. Do you understand what the discussion is about? Do you know the correct talking points? Why so much drama?
I believe everyone should have an understanding of exactly what is going on with us. So, here is a quick story with my side of the discussion.
I have another board member that I have always spent a lot of time talking with, and we’ve always bounced ideas off each other. With this board member, there is often a difference of opinion, so naturally a conversation about the next Superintendent began. I shared my viewpoint. I can’t exactly quote myself, but I know these are the ideas that I shared:
1. Dothan doesn’t want another outsider.
2. Why have we been hiring people that aren’t vested in Dothan?
3.What if we made integrity our main requirement, over degrees and experience?
4. What if we hired a person and had no doubt about who they are? Because they have shown it day after day, year after year?
5. What if that person was also one of the hardest working people we know?
6. What if that person was proven to care more about the students, faculty, and the schools then themself?
As I was listing the questions, my mind was working toward a specific person and the questions got more specific:
7. What if that person grew up in Dothan, went to college in Dothan, and has worked in Dothan?”
8. What if that person was the Principal at one of our most challenging, yet successful schools, because there is a faculty that embraces a culture and connection that he endorses every day?
9. What if that person was the Principal at the school that has continuously grown in enrollment, year after year?
At that point, I mentioned the name of Todd Mitchell. The Principal of our Carver 9th Grade Academy (and I can only imagine how many people just smiled when they read that sentence, because I don’t think I’m alone in such an inspirational thought). We’ve got tons of great leaders in our system. Several of them could have been the example I used. But, at that moment, Mr. Mitchell was the example that I cited.
It was a simple conversation, and we revisited the topic a few more times that month. Then, at the next board meeting we were suddenly being asked to vote for additional requirements being added Superintendent job advertisement. Requirements that no other school system in the state has ever had. And I noticed that four of the five requirements would eliminate someone like Mr. Mitchell, and not a single DCS employee could meet all five requirements. None of our people could even apply for the job. No one admitted to placing the new requirements on our Board agenda, although it’s pretty obvious who did it. It was sketchy, colluded, and not even close to being the will of the people. At that point it became obvious to me that the four board members that make up the majority were not seeking those characteristics for our next superintendent.
Now they’ve got us voting on search committees to “lessen the burden on the board.” I don’t need my burden lessened, we were elected for this and who thinks it’s a good idea to spend $25,000 for a search committee from Idaho to choose our next leader? There is an obvious majority of our public that agrees with the viewpoint of our three member minority. Why are they trying to disconnect the citizens of Dothan from this process?
The School Board election is coming up. If I am wrong, the public will vote the three of us out. If not, they will be voted out. There’s nothing that has more influence/impact on our community than our public schools. And as you see, four like-minded board members can completely change the direction of a school system and a community. What direction do you want us to go? Please vote!
Without a doubt, the next school board should be given the opportunity to make this decision. Then, it will be a true voice of the people. An interim can get us through the transition. Please speak out! Currently our board majority is expediting the process in attempt to make a decision this summer. Refusing to let the next Board decide. Can we trust that decision?
Fix your school board, and you will fix your city!
Disclaimer: Todd Mitchell is a good friend of mine who I’ve had the pleasure of growing great respect for. He’s also qualified and completely capable of reshaping the culture of Dothan City Schools. The opposition is going to try to make an argument that hiring him is an agenda of mine. Don’t let them have that, If the public buys into that, I will hear it, and I promise you I will easily step away and build a lot more houses to offset the $277 I get every month for being the school board chairman!
