George,

I believe the decision by the Charlottesville School Board to open the process to non-Board members is an example of appointed boards being weaker than elected boards. It is important for a future superintendent to know who is in control. If a school board doesn’t trust itself to make the hiring decision, how can the superintendent trust the board to back him when they have to make tough decisions that will have community opposition?

Steve Koleszar (Electronic mail, September 27, 2005)