educationGATE...and other mysteries

Interesting idea--too bad the Post didn't take the issue to an interesting depth...BUT-- I am still intigued by the continued interest of McGraw-Hill company in Eric Smith. I like the second paragraph where, instead of Smith being remembered for the "miracle in A.A. county," he is simply identified for his "magical senior staff incentives program"...and associated with the likes of another good friend of educational buisiness...

Searches for Superintendents Hang on a Pivotal Decision, Officials Weigh Effects of Going Public or Staying Private
By Ian Shapira
Washington Post Staff Writer
Sunday, January 22, 2006; Page C07

(an excerpt)

"Public searches, Domenech said, often burn very good superintendents. "Take a guy like Eric Smith. When he was superintendent of Anne Arundel County and applied for the Miami job and didn't get it, it was public knowledge," said Domenech, a senior vice president at McGraw-Hill Education. "And then bad feelings emerged."

Ultimately, however, no search guarantees a successful superintendent. Smith, the Anne Arundel schools chief from 2002 to 2005, was forced out after an internal audit alleged that he awarded senior staff members exorbitant pay raises and bonuses. In Prince George's, Andre J. Hornsby was hired as schools chief after a round of public forums. But he quit halfway into a four-year contract amid an ethics controversy and a federal probe of school system purchases and other management issues."


http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/01/21/AR2006012101196.html


SO--I wrote to the guy....

Interesting article on the issue of open vs closed school superintendent selection process--In Anne Arundel County, although a skillful charade was staged to "obtain community feedback" for the M.A.B.E selection team, the ultimate description of the forum results did not match the feedback I heard and delivered at one of three ( moderately attended) such forums.

A thorough, interesting, investigative report would be timely right now to enlighten the public about the reality of the selection process and ask the question of how a school board, appointed by a governor, as is the case in Anne Arundel County, with obvious ties to special interest groups ( the business community, the military community, partisan political affiliations,) has the power to make a decision which will have such a huge impact on our schools' future, with absolutely no community input, and by way of a volunteer panel (the school board members) who have probably as little time invested in research about the outcomes of NCLB and it's effects in our classrooms as the community overall.

Another interesting question: Why does McGraw-Hill educational co. have a stake in the selection process?

Thanks for your time,

SO--he wrote back....

Hi Annie -- Thanks for your email. McGraw Hill doesn't have a stake in the
process. It's just the place where a former Fairfax superintendent works. I
thought it would be useful for the story to have interviewed a former
superintendent who went through these various searches and get his
perspective.

Your story idea sounds good. I'll check into it and see what I come up
with...
Ian

SO--I replied....

Thanks for your quick response...I tend to differ with your opinion...With millions of dollars of school budgets going directly to the McGraw-Hill company, I am sure they do maintain a close interest in the selection of the folks who control those budgets. For example, your guy in Fairax who was given a job there--he must have done a great job when he was superintendent ( especially in terms of budget for testing and educational materials purchased from McGraw-Hill) ...and Eric Smith, he did such a "great job," McGraw-Hill became his publicity manager after he left AA county, (for questionable hiring and raise practices, and other serious results of an audit)--when a video on his pro-NCLB tactics in N.C. came out on PBS.

No, I don't agree at all that the connections are coincidental--and I do believe that there could possibly be a relationship of interest.

Thank you for your interest in the selection process. Anything that helps the community to understand the process is helpful...

ANYHOW--I am SURE that a POST investigation will quickly follow, about the relationship between Educational Testing and Textbook, Curriculum and other supplimental educational service Companies AND the Superintendents (or CEO's) of high profile, BIG BUCKS, BIG STAKES school systems...


what? you don't think so??? (me either....)