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 Do We Need an Education Czar in North Carolina?
by Tom Campbell
August 23, 2007
The state’s community college system is searching for a new president to replace Martin Lancaster, who has served capably. With the position opening, and with the 2008 elections drawing close, this might be an appropriate time to evaluate our education systems in North Carolina, to include public schools, community colleges and our university system.
A brief history will provide some perspective. In 1943 the State Board of Education was formed to oversee our public schools. It was reorganized in 1971, removing the State Superintendent of Public Instruction as a board member, making this person the chief administrative officer of the board that oversaw the Department of Public Instruction and community colleges. In 1981 governance of community colleges was moved to the newly established State Board of Community Colleges.
What emerged was a two-headed governance structure in our public schools; both the elected superintendent and the appointed board were at odds over who was in control. Threats of lawsuits and constant bickering distracted from the education process. In 1995 the legislature stepped into the fray, passing legislation that named the Superintendent as day-to-day administrator of the Department of Public Instruction, but with direction, control, and approval from the 11 member State Board appointed by the Governor. The new law improved, but didn’t fix the governance issue.
In 1971 Governor Bob Scott led an effort to merge the 16 public colleges and universities into the Consolidated University of North Carolina, and a 32 member Board of Governors, appointed by the legislature, was formed to oversee higher education. Individual schools chafed at the idea and recently the larger schools, notably Carolina and State, sometimes circumvent the board and president, taking their desires for more flexibility and special treatment directly to the legislature. Lawmakers frequently usurp and play politics with a system they designed, creating serious strains in governance.
Today we have three separate and unequal education entities going their own way without much regard for or cooperation with the others. Relations between the three have improved in the past two years, but there is much that can be done to avoid overlap, economize, make the education process more seamless, and improve the flexibility, delivery and quality of education for our citizens. However, as long as we have three separate systems vying for limited dollars, operating in their own self-interests we won’t likely see great improvement.
Back when our state constitution was re-written in 1971, after more than 100 years, there was genuine debate about most aspects of state government, including education. Some advocates insisted that our state’s education system would work best if there was one board with one administrator in charge of our public schools, community colleges and universities. Their idea was dismissed, but now might be time to give serious consideration to the concept. To be sure it wouldn’t be an easy sell, but when we are spending .2 billion of our budget on education we need to ensure we are getting the most efficient and effective system providing the maximum benefits for our citizens. We might be ready for an “Education Czar” in North Carolina.
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