Disappointed in board’s decision

Contributed
Published: May 22, 2008

To the editor,
Those who understand organizational operations value the importance of effective performance evaluations for their employees. Effective evaluations objectively compare the employee’s actual performance to desired objectives and the overall mission of the organization. Employee strengths and weaknesses are enumerated and expounded, suggestions are made for enhancing the employee’s effectiveness and an action plan is developed to assist the employee meet personal, professional and organizational goals.
In my past experience on the Orange County School Board, Mr. Bledsoe and another former member evaluated the current superintendent as substandard in every listed category. (It is noteworthy that the same board members evaluated the former superintendent as excelling in every listed category.) In all my years of organizational leadership, I can attest that both of the aforementioned results are quite rare in a legitimate evaluation process, especially for such a high-level position.
Since the superintendent’s contract is predicated on a “satisfactory” evaluation and his contract was not renewed based on a 3-2 vote, it is quite clear to me that Mr. Bledsoe is executing his same evaluation “style” and merely has another hand-picked “partner” in this vendetta-fueled travesty. Keep in mind that an extensive national search for the best and most qualified candidate to move our school system forward produced the current superintendent, who as a change agent has indeed proved his talents and skills for the development of high standards and the execution of plans to help our students and staff reach them. He rightly has shown little tolerance for status quo or mediocrity and though perhaps his message is offensive to some, has made it clear that student success, staff stretch goals – not comfort zones, and maximizing fiscal and human resources for classroom education are paramount.
The aphorism regarding putting lipstick on a pig comes to mind as I think of the apparent Bledsoe/Carter objective in this situation. Let’s hope, for the sake of public education in Orange County, that after this “evaluation” experience, Mrs. Waugh-Robinson will join Mr. Haney and Mr. Hopkins in clearly recognizing the next metaphorical, albeit predictable, lip-sticked pig paraded out by Bledsoe and Carter.
Delores C. Darnell
Orange