Bill would pressure top brass in schools

The Clarion-Ledger, 3/18/8

Better leadership is one way to help chronically underperforming schools improve, state Board of Education members said Monday.

So they’re encouraging the Legislature to pass a bill that would take to task superintendents whose districts repeatedly miss the achievement mark.

“Failure’s not an option; you’re talking about kids,” said Claude Hartley, State Education Board president.

Senate Bill 2149 would require school districts to remove an elected or appointed superintendent from districts that underperform for two consecutive years. If the superintendent is elected, the position becomes appointed by the school board.