This MPR
radio clip exemplifies the importance of PNLC Blogger Mallory Mitchell’s previous post about the tell-all job interview
question: “Can you tell me about your Board?”
The Minneapolis School Board is
currently seeking a new District Superintendent, and the search has been
fraught with challenges. In his letter to withdraw his candidacy, the interim
Superintendent Goar stated plainly that the School Board was increasingly
“divided and fragmented”. The former Minnesota Mayor R.T. Rybak echoed these
exact sentiments this week. A Superintendent is the head of the Board and also
carries out its policies; a functional working relationship requires mutual
trust.
It is possible that Superintendent
candidates are asking the exact question that Mitchell suggested, “Can you tell
me about your Board?” and are seeking other job opportunities, instead.
On an organizational level, a volunteer Board will certainly face challenges carrying out the HR functions of a new hire process. As a Minneapolis resident myself who takes pride in our city, I am grateful for the service of the Minneapolis Public School Board. I also believe we must take the challenge of a divided School Board seriously, and as a community be active participants in the search and input for a new Superintendent.
On an organizational level, a volunteer Board will certainly face challenges carrying out the HR functions of a new hire process. As a Minneapolis resident myself who takes pride in our city, I am grateful for the service of the Minneapolis Public School Board. I also believe we must take the challenge of a divided School Board seriously, and as a community be active participants in the search and input for a new Superintendent.
By: Lauren Walker
Lauren Walker is a first year MPP
candidate at the Humphrey School studying Global Policy. Her previous work
experience was as a Regional Organizer for International Justice Mission. In
her career, she aims to increase communication between practitioners and
policymakers, to garner wider support for programs that work.