The Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal Editorial, 4/17/8
Legislative passage and pending gubernatorial enactment of a law that would empower the state to remove school superintendents whose districts underperform under law for two consecutive years advances the cause of accountability and school adequacy.
The bill that passed differs substantially from the abolition of elected superintendents, sought at the beginning of the 2008 session, but the final bill makes progress toward pinpointing failed leadership and doing something about it.
We still support abolition of elected superintendents because appointed administrators more easily can be held to task by boards of trustees. Boards are at the top of the responsibility chart, but an elected superintendent can claim a voter mandate in disagreeing with the directions trustees want to take school systems. That system is counterproductive.
About half of Mississippi’s 151 superintendents are elected.
Magnolia Tribune
