FCPS Superintendent Jake Dale’s contract is up for a vote. In question is the length of the contract being offered, 2 years, 3 years, 4 years.
What do you think about Dr Dale's performance?
Let your School Board member know what your opinion is by going to www.fcps.edu.
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Remarks of Leonard Bumbaca, President, Fairfax Education Association
To the Fairfax County School Board July 23, 2009
Good evening Ms. Smith, members of the School Board and Dr Dale.
Tonight you are considering the renewal of the contract of Superintendent Jack Dale. The Fairfax Education Association and its 7000 members, employees of Fairfax County Public Schools, would like to express our thoughts on that decision. At issue is the both the question of approval of continuing the contract as well as the duration.
The economy and the resultant effects on our school system have dictated almost every decision the superintendent has made. The tenure of Jack Dale, much like my own tenure as president of the Association, has occurred during exceptionally difficult times. We all “drew the short straw” fated to work as best we can with shrinking resources and demanding stakeholders, all of whom have legitimate claims and expectations that are proving impossible to meet.
While we can all agree that the system remains a place of quality education, to what extent is this unsustainable as overburdened educators reach a breaking point? “Breaking point?” Yes, indeed, we are especially concerned about the possibility that we have already passed a point of no return. Employees are sustaining the results of decisions initiated by this superintendent. No COLA, no step, elimination of the redlining provision, no relief on teacher time, etc., despite the arguments of necessity, do not sit well; and you should not expect them to sit well with your employees; and you should not expect them to sit well with the larger community either. Nevertheless, a superintendent is hired to provide leadership and improvement despite the economy.
Now, in the quiet interlude of a little noticed mid-summer night, you are considering a contract extension that represents a long term commitment, an extended promise to a staff member that provides insulating guarantees and favorable terms that no other staff member enjoys. Even if a case can be made, will it be accepted? Is it enough?
Our members and the community ask, “What standards of accountability are you measuring? Doesn’t the community need to know and be allowed to have input?” A principal is evaluated by surveys and community input by regulation. You have not even solicited community input on this decision, with no provision for public comment until the day before this meeting.
To be clear, my concerns are focused on the process and the message of this decision. We are all mindful of the “Gatehouse II” experience where FCPS lost control of the message and underlying opportunities came across as crass opportunism in the face of public outrage in this current environment. In the face of this bitter headwind, you as a board proceeded with a tin ear to the sensitivities of the community. You focused on the outcome you wanted and not on the response of key constituents. The result was a public relations disaster.
Nothing has changed in the environment; why should you expect anything else but an equally passionate response from the community? This will be made even worse by the sense that this is a decision made in the “dead of night.”
I am not here tonight to argue the merits of Dr Dale’s continued tenure. I do question the wisdom of approving an extended contract in a time of uncertainty when the tests ahead of us may prove even more trying than those we have already faced. It would be imprudent to make either a long term commitment or a rushed change of leadership at this time. It would be foolhardy to ignore the political lessons of the Gatehouse II experience.
Renew the contract of the superintendent? I think the answer has to be yes. To extend it for four years and encumber the next school board with a contract it may not want? I think you have to think long and hard about that. Is it really your decision to make?
FEA recommends that you provide an additional two years and leave to the next board decisions about future extensions. Thank you.
To the Fairfax County School Board July 23, 2009
Good evening Ms. Smith, members of the School Board and Dr Dale.
Tonight you are considering the renewal of the contract of Superintendent Jack Dale. The Fairfax Education Association and its 7000 members, employees of Fairfax County Public Schools, would like to express our thoughts on that decision. At issue is the both the question of approval of continuing the contract as well as the duration.
The economy and the resultant effects on our school system have dictated almost every decision the superintendent has made. The tenure of Jack Dale, much like my own tenure as president of the Association, has occurred during exceptionally difficult times. We all “drew the short straw” fated to work as best we can with shrinking resources and demanding stakeholders, all of whom have legitimate claims and expectations that are proving impossible to meet.
While we can all agree that the system remains a place of quality education, to what extent is this unsustainable as overburdened educators reach a breaking point? “Breaking point?” Yes, indeed, we are especially concerned about the possibility that we have already passed a point of no return. Employees are sustaining the results of decisions initiated by this superintendent. No COLA, no step, elimination of the redlining provision, no relief on teacher time, etc., despite the arguments of necessity, do not sit well; and you should not expect them to sit well with your employees; and you should not expect them to sit well with the larger community either. Nevertheless, a superintendent is hired to provide leadership and improvement despite the economy.
Now, in the quiet interlude of a little noticed mid-summer night, you are considering a contract extension that represents a long term commitment, an extended promise to a staff member that provides insulating guarantees and favorable terms that no other staff member enjoys. Even if a case can be made, will it be accepted? Is it enough?
Our members and the community ask, “What standards of accountability are you measuring? Doesn’t the community need to know and be allowed to have input?” A principal is evaluated by surveys and community input by regulation. You have not even solicited community input on this decision, with no provision for public comment until the day before this meeting.
To be clear, my concerns are focused on the process and the message of this decision. We are all mindful of the “Gatehouse II” experience where FCPS lost control of the message and underlying opportunities came across as crass opportunism in the face of public outrage in this current environment. In the face of this bitter headwind, you as a board proceeded with a tin ear to the sensitivities of the community. You focused on the outcome you wanted and not on the response of key constituents. The result was a public relations disaster.
Nothing has changed in the environment; why should you expect anything else but an equally passionate response from the community? This will be made even worse by the sense that this is a decision made in the “dead of night.”
I am not here tonight to argue the merits of Dr Dale’s continued tenure. I do question the wisdom of approving an extended contract in a time of uncertainty when the tests ahead of us may prove even more trying than those we have already faced. It would be imprudent to make either a long term commitment or a rushed change of leadership at this time. It would be foolhardy to ignore the political lessons of the Gatehouse II experience.
Renew the contract of the superintendent? I think the answer has to be yes. To extend it for four years and encumber the next school board with a contract it may not want? I think you have to think long and hard about that. Is it really your decision to make?
FEA recommends that you provide an additional two years and leave to the next board decisions about future extensions. Thank you.
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