In an amazing revelation (not really) the Sioux Falls School Board is going to keep the search for the Super – Super, Super secret;
Residents won’t know who will replace outgoing Sioux Falls School District Superintendent Pam Homan until this spring, when officials announce the new hire.
Of course, this is no surprise, this city and state lack transparency on all levels. Heck, the School District can’t even tell us the suggested names for new schools. It is really sad that a public education organization that takes our property taxes to fund them has to be so ultra secretive. It is a BAD example to the students. They are saying it is OKAY to make important decisions for taxpayers behind closed doors.
Shame on the Sioux Falls School Board.
Board member Doug Morrison said he would prefer to respect the privacy of the candidates who are applying for the position.
“I don’t know if there’s any advantage for us to release the names,” Morrison said.
C’mon Doug, this is a VERY PUBLIC job, I think the applicants know that. If they are unwilling to give their name to the public before getting hired, then they shouldn’t be applying in my opinion.
Keeping interviews closed to the very end could potentially increase the pool of applicants, Thoelke said.
“That really jeopardizes a guy’s job when he goes back home,” Thoelke said. “I would hope the public would be more interested in getting quality candidates than being involved in the final three.”
We are interested in QUALITY candidates, and that starts with letting the public also vet the candidates. Besides, if they are looking for a different job, they should be honest with their current employer and let them know they are applying for another job. Like I said above, this is a PUBLIC job, not private sector. The selection process should be PUBLIC!
“That really jeopardizes a guy’s job when he goes back home,†Thoelke said.
Does that mean he is only looking for Male applicant’s?
This time, how about someone who lives in the school district and (maybe, just maybe) has experience as a parent. Horses don’t count.
There’s value in releasing the names of the finalists, for the reasons you mention. That’s usually par for the course in these sorts of hires. But beyond that, the right of the candidate to privacy outweighs the public’s interest in knowing every candidate that was considered.
When I read the editorial outcry about the hiring process, I had to laugh.
For one thing the voter turn-out for voting for School Board members is traditionally the lowest. So, I just cannot think that who is the superintendent is of concern to most.
Secondly, education does not seem to be a high priority in SD, otherwise there would be more willingness to donate money beyond the forced taxes to support education.
And, during the legislative session, the Republicans hold closed door meetings, and we know that decisions are being made about issues that will impact everyone in SD. Why is that acceptable, but not in this situation?
The governor is allowed to appoint/hire whomever he wishes to fill the seat of judges and legislators when someone leaves a position without having input from the tax payers.
It does not matter to me, I just hope that whomever is hired will have thick enough skin to withstand the attacks that are bound to happen.
It would be nice if there is transparency that is consistent across the board rather than just pockets of transparency and outrage when there is selective transparency.
Hey, but you can submit your opinion online, LOL!
http://www.sf.k12.sd.us/index.php?option=com_flexicontent&view=items&cid=81:district-news&id=1272:superintendent-search
I noticed the Argus ED board chided the School Board for their closed door approach, and mentioned a lot of the same things I did. For instance it being a public job, the public should be involved in the process.
I have several theories as to why the door will be closed. First, Homan claims she will NOT be involved in the process. I find this HIGHLY unlikely, I just can’t see her allowing the District to hire someone to replace her and she doesn’t share her opinion.
I also think they are keeping the door closed due to contract negotiations, I think they want to keep the new contract with the new super secret, mainly because of all the perks Homan has gotten, like a vehicle, a slush fund and an unbelievable pension.
I also find it ironic that a board that constantly talks about saving money for education instead of spending it on elections hires an outside consultant. Why not open it up internally first, and if no one applies or isn’t qualified within the district, then do a national search. I mean, they have all employee records, how hard would it be to just look at local applicants first?
This whole process is shady all the way around.