So far, the process is encouraging, with a clear and strong commitment for community input. That's important, although in the end it is Board of Education members who must choose a leader based on who they think can best articulate a vision for lifting Durham schools to a higher level of performance.
Our hope is that vision is a bold one. The board and Harris have worked diligently to address the system's many challenges, from low test scores and graduation rates to high drop-out and suspension rates, but much more remains to be done.
The school board made the conservative but solid choice for search assistance, contracting with the N.C. School Boards Association. The association has long experience in helping systems across the state hire leaders. In these times of financial stress the fact it was the lowest-cost option clearly was in its favor.
We trust the local board will aggressively challenge the association to look expansively and to make an effort not just to screen applications but to identify strong candidates that should be encouraged to apply. The best CEOs don't drop from the sky; they are energetically recruited, and the same would be true in public education.
We were pleased last week to see the school board launch its effort to tap into community input. DPS staff as well as any member of the Durham community will have an opportunity to take part in on-line surveys through the DPS Web site. (There's a "Superintendent Search" link on the system's home page at www.dpsnc.net).
For those who may not want or be able to take part on line, printed surveys will be available in all schools and at Durham County Public Library branches. Commendably in this diverse community, on-line and printed surveys will be in English and in Spanish.
Groups or organizations may submit written statements to the school boards association, and the local board will offer an opportunity for public comment at its Jan. 28 meeting. The board already has conducted a "kitchen table" conversation to gather the public's thoughts on what to look for in a candidate.
As the search nears a climactic stage, we fervently hope (but seriously doubt) the board will make the names of finalists public. We understand the reluctance to do that, but the importance of the decision argues for a public vetting of the leading candidates.
But that decision is months away. For now, we would encourage citizens to respond thoughtfully to the board's invitation for input.
