Still searching for answers

By Jeff Poole
Review Managing Editor
Published: August 21, 2008

After remaining suspiciously silent about why they chose not to renew school superintendent Dr. William Crawford’s contract, the school board agreed Tuesday to hire the Virginia School Board Association to assist them in finding his replacement.
Forgive us for finding the irony in the fact it was the same VSBA that helped the county hire Dr. Crawford unanimously in the first place.
At a special meeting the day before the 2008-09 school year was about to begin, the school board agreed to pay $10,000 (plus expenses) to VSBA to assist them in conducting the search for Dr. Crawford’s replacement.
“The [VSBA’s] guidance will help us to build a picture for what we’re looking for [in a new superintendent],” school board chair Jerry Bledsoe said.
We’re not faulting the VSBA. They provide this type of professional service for communities throughout the state. They support school divisions like Orange with problems like this.
When they helped Orange hire Dr. Crawford three years ago, it cost us $7,500 (plus expenses). They screen applications, vet candidates and help separate the wheat from the chaff “to ensure that the quality and number of candidates meet school board standards and expectations.”
Ah, yes. “School board standards and expectations.”
I think we’re still waiting to hear exactly what those are. It may simply boil down to: “Not Dr. Crawford.”
The school board said it will soon advertise for the position and solicit a public survey.
We’re curious to read both and to see the results. The results of the last superintendent survey were published in the paper. And, three years ago, the school board appointed a citizen advisory committee to assist in the search. We expect our current school board to be just as thorough.
At this point, it’s not about whether we like Dr. Crawford or not. The man’s professional. He’s prepared for the school year and to move on after it. Now, it’s about us working with the school board to guarantee the appropriate level of input in finding his replacement.
We’re simply asking our elected officials to prepare the community for the path they’ve chosen for us. That pathway should be illuminated with information.
Three months ago, when the school board chose not to renew Dr. Crawford’s contract, they implied the community should trust them. Yet in the interim, the board has yet to offer any reassuring words or direction.
Absent any information from the school board, we are left to assume that their decision is purely political.
When they met with VSBA officials Tuesday, our school board members were encouraged to hold public meetings and bring citizens into the process.
“You have to do whatever will make your citizens feel comfortable that the process was open and honest,” VSBA Executive Director Frank Barham said.
We hope that message sunk in with our board members.
Barham was right when he told the board, “This is the most important decision that you will make as board.”
We can only hope we aren’t going through this process yet again in another two or three years.