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 Perdue gets an “A” for Education Changes
by Tom Campbell
January 29, 2009
Governor Perdue’s education reforms get an “A” for comprehension, an “A” for action, a “B+” for actual reform, and an incomplete for results. Pretty doggone good for a governor in office less than a month.
It is obvious that the experienced Perdue understands the problem of having too many cooks in the education kitchen. Quite correctly, she understands the governance mess our state has crafted, knows that someone must be in charge and, correctly, believes that someone should be the Governor. The constitutionally designated Superintendent of Public Instruction has been stripped of all authority. The legislative function is to fund, not micromanage education. The State Board’s proper role should be broad policy direction, not administration. By appointing one person, Bill Harrison, as both the Chairman of the State Board of Education and the CEO of public schools, North Carolina will have, for the first time in modern memory, one person to hold accountable. And while it is understood that person is accountable to all the stakeholders in public education, Harrison’s boss is the governor.
Governor Perdue would have gotten an “A” for reform if she had completed her task by publicly stating what everyone already knows and calling for the elimination of the Superintendent’s position. Perdue tried to be as gracious to June Atkinson as possible, and it must be said that the lack of responsibility has little to do with the officeholder, but Atkinson has little to do. The Governor also got points off for not saying goodbye to former Board Chair Howard Lee, a great man who has served our state well and who already had a plum job on the Utilities Commission. Perdue should have brought out the punch and cookies and thanked Lee for his service. His new job coordinating public education, community colleges, and the universities appears to be a stretch, at best. But these are minor detractions.
Perdue and Harrison have their work cut out for them. Harrison is well experienced in our state’s education system, giving him a leg up in his new role. His first months in this position are critical in demonstrating that he is the agent of reform Governor Perdue has signaled. He cannot allow himself to become immersed in the status-quo mentality and will need to clearly and quickly articulate that, while there is much good in public education, there is much clearly unacceptable and in need for reform.
With this significant change Governor Perdue has served notice that she is in charge of public education and must be willing to accept responsibility when problems arise. The public doesn’t expect perfection and we certainly don’t expect things will change overnight. Our role is to hold our Governor and her new education CEO to high standards, be supportive of change, give these new reforms sufficient time to work, applaud what works and demand new solutions if results don’t materialize. Public education is the most important service our state provides and it deserves our best effort. Governor Perdue is to be applauded to recognizing and initiating these reforms. |
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