Moral Maine Superintendent Need Apply

Maine
Moral Maine Superintendent Need Apply
By Staff
Jul 16, 2008 - 6:42:35 PM

Question: what's not being stated, but instead only coyly implied, in this Portland Press Herald editorial? Hint: there was a bill floated in the Legislature, a State Attorney General investigation that was called for, and a local recall effort that resulted from it.

Answer: the paper suggests the next Portland School Superintendent will want to avoid the whole Portland School Committee/King Middle School abortion-inducing contraception pills for pre-teen girls (without parental notification) national fiasco that erupted late last year.

Outgoing Superintendent Mary Jo O'Connor wasn't able to keep that story from breaking internationally in mid-October, then it seemed like forever (but was only about three months) before all the outrageous details and specifics were off of the front pages and telecasts.

We appreciate the Press Herald's Editorial Board for stating that the next Portland Schools leader "has to be able to explain to the whole community, not just parents, about what they are supporting with their tax dollars."

And voters throwing out the Portland School Committee members who allowed this travesty to occur would not be a bad idea either.

Next superintendent will need some political skills
The Portland [ME] School Committee should look for someone who can speak to the whole city.

"The next superintendent should be someone who would be a leader in developing curriculum and programs for Maine's biggest school system. But the superintendent should have one other skill. This is a job that, at times, requires a politician.

"The superintendent has to work with different constituencies and build alliances to run the system. He or she also has to be able to explain to the whole community, not just parents, about what they are supporting with their tax dollars."