SCHOOL FINANCE

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Children First, Not Politics! Making the Case
for Appointed
Directors of Schools
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From Elected to Appointed

• Pre-1992
• 79 school systems elected superintendents by
  popular vote and 10 were elected by county
  commissions. Only 5 county systems appointed the
  superintendent.
• 1992
• The Tennessee General Assembly adopted the
  Education Improvement Act and eliminated the
  position of the elected superintendent required
  all superintendents/directors of schools to be
  appointed by local boards of education by
  September 1, 2000.
• 2000
• All directors of schools in Tennessee appointed.
  

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What led to the switch?

• Constitutionality of TN education funding formula
  in question
• Small Schools decision by the TN Supreme Court
  looming
• Opportunity for Legislature to improve funding
  for all districts
• Increased taxes to fund education and address
  Small Schools suit created a public and
  legislative demand for increased accountability
• Education Improvement Act of 1992 adopted
• Completely restructured school governance in
  Tennessee increasing funding for education and
  flexibility at the local level in return for
  unprecedented accountability. The cornerstone of
  this accountability was the appointed director of
  schools.

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Education Improvement Act

• The EIA represented a major reform in Tennessee
  public education, implementing the following
  measures
• Funding formula to address constitutional issues
  related to distribution of state dollars
  substantial increase in education funding
• Higher academic standards for schools and
  students
• Annual report card for all school systems
• Ability of commissioner to place schools not
  meeting performance standards on probation
• Possible removal of board of education members
  and superintendents of systems not meeting
  performance standards
• Elected school boards Appointed directors of
  schools

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Role of the Appointed Director

• The EIA devoted more sections to the
  superintendent position than any other reform
  area, signifying the importance of the provision.
  Seventeen of the acts 88 sections dealt with
  the role of the superintendent, primarily in the
  area of personnel.
• Director provided with authority to hire,
  transfer, suspend, non-renew and dismiss school
  personnel (previously, a board duty)
• Written contracts between director and principals
• Required positive recommendation by director
  prior to awarding tenure to teachers
• The EIA implemented a corporate model for school
  leadership, with one person ultimately
  responsible for personnel decision-making, acting
  as a CEO for the school system and being held
  accountable by a board for his or her decisions.

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Personnel Authority Why Important?

• Eliminates micromanagement of school system by
  lay board of education members with little
  knowledge of true qualifications of applicants
  and employees
• Removes spoils system whereby individuals
  supportive in elections, family or friends are
  provided with jobs in the school system and
  unsupportive individuals are fired
• Insulates director from undue influence and
  allows him or her to make personnel decisions in
  the best interests of the school system and its
  students
• The employment and retention of quality staff is
  the key to student and school success!

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Unraveling Reform?

• Each year since the adoption of the EIA,
  legislation has been introduced to revert to the
  process of electing superintendents.
• In 2005, the Tennessee House Education Committee
  narrowly avoided passing the measure with a 7-7-1
  vote the closest vote on the issue in 13 years.
  
• Support for this reversion is most strongly
  represented by county commissions in the state
  who have grown frustrated with their directors of
  schools.

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County Commissions Push for Elections A Hidden
Agenda?

• Local funding bodies are often critical of
  appointed superintendents who serve as lead
  advocates for improvements in education funding
  they believe an elected official would be less
  critical of commission inaction and less likely
  to push for additional revenue for schools.
• Appointed superintendents often have an agenda
  contrary to the plans of the county commission.
• Ironically, these are reasons why the
  superintendent should be appointed. Surely, we
  dont want an education system in Tennessee where
  school leaders, due to political fear, are
  reluctant to advocate for our childrens future.

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Legislative support for elected superintendents
misguided

• The reasons why the General Assembly moved from
  elected to appointed superintendents in 1992 are
  more valid today than ever
• Accountability
• Quality
• Availability
• Cooperation
• Student Achievement

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Accountability

• Appointed directors provide greater
  accountability, as they are held accountable to
  the board of education. Unlike an elected
  superintendent, an appointed director may be
  replaced if he or she is incompetent or not
  meeting minimal standards.
• With No Child Left Behind mandates and
  ever-increasing demand for results, it is
  imperative that school leaders are focused on
  meeting goals and objective and improving
  achievement for all students.
• The superintendent must be held accountable for
  results and the election of the position places
  politics over sound educational practices.

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Quality Availability

• The appointment of the director removes residency
  restrictions, allowing the selection to be based
  solely on professional qualifications and
  leadership skills rather than popularity and
  political know-how.
• No corporation or business would consider
  limiting itself to residents from the particular
  county when searching for a new director or CEO.
  They would hire the most qualified person period.
  Should our schools and communities settle for
  anything less?
• Superintendents are professionals. Professionals
  are selected, not elected.

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Cooperation Achievement

• The appointment of the director ensures the board
  of education and the director work together
  toward meeting the same goals and objectives.
• The elected superintendent can create a diffusion
  of responsibility and direction, as control is
  divided. The board sets policy but the elected
  director doesnt have to follow it.
• A system where the board sets one direction but
  the director follows another is a recipe for
  disaster. Achievement suffers and the public
  doesnt know who to hold accountable.

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But I want to vote!

• Contrary to common thinking, the public gains
  more control over education with an appointed
  superintendent.

VOTERS Elect the Board of Education
APPOINTED DIRECTOR OF SCHOOLS CLEAR LINE OF
ACCOUNTABILITY
BOARD OF EDUCATION Appoints the Director of
Schools Sets Goals Objectives
Adopts Policies Budget
DIRECTOR OF SCHOOLS Hires Staff
Implements Goals, Objectives
Policies
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But I want to vote!
VOTERS Elect the Board of Education Elect the
Superintendent
BOARD OF EDUCATION Sets Goals Objectives
Adopts Policies Budget Powerless
on Implementation
ELECTED SUPERINTENDENT May Ignore Board of
Education No Accountability Until
Next Election
ELECTED DIRECTOR OF SCHOOLS NO LINE OF
ACCOUNTABILITY
WHO CAN THE PUBLIC HOLD RESPONSIBLE FOR
PERFORMANCE?
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But I want to vote!

• The best way to make a difference in your school
  system with a vote is to select quality board of
  education members that share your views about the
  school system and education.
• Let your school board member know what you want
  in a director of schools.
• Then, when the board makes its selection, there
  is a clear line of accountability. The buck
  stops with the board!

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Other Factors to Consider

• Personnel Authority Under Proposed Legislation
• Under bills currently before the General
  Assembly, personnel authority would remain with
  the elected superintendent, creating an
  environment for abuse where one elected official
  has nearly unlimited authority to return
  political favors and dismiss employees without
  any educational foundation.

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Other Factors to Consider

• Best Practices
• Only three states in the entire country
  Alabama, Florida and Mississippi continue to
  participate in the outdated practice of electing
  school superintendents.
• Less than one percent of the more than 15,000
  superintendents in the United States are elected
• The election of superintendents is an idea whose
  time has passed. With todays emphasis on
  accountability and results, it simply doesnt
  make sense.

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Your Help is Needed!

• Legislation is pending in the General Assembly to
  allow counties and cities to elect school
  superintendents. Support appears to be growing
  among legislators. Why?
• Its a hot-button, emotional issue. Voting is
  democracy.
• New candidates for office are making this a key
  issue in their campaigns.
• County commissions are actively lobbying their
  legislators to make the change.
• Legislators pass the buck to locals, with many
  stating they personally support appointed
  superintendents but will vote for the right of
  the people to choose to have an elected school
  leader.

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What can you do?

• Talk to your legislators. Let them know you
  oppose dismantling the Education Improvement Act
  and the accountability that came with it.
• Tell your legislators who say they personally
  support appointed superintendents to stand up and
  do the job they were elected to do tell them
  supporting a bill giving each county the right to
  choose is a cop-out.
• Be as vocal about your support for appointed
  superintendents as those who favor an elected
  position.
• Communicate to your county commissioners/city
  council members that you support a school leader
  who is not beholden to them and who will
  communicate the needs of the school system
  regardless of the political ramifications.

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Appointed Directors of Schools

• Substance over Popularity
• Quality over Residency
• Progress over Patronage
• Advocacy over Fear
• Responsibility over Blame
• Cooperation over Agendas
• Accountability over Diffusion

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Children First, Not Politics! Maintain
Appointed Directors of Schools
in Tennessee