What T.J. Aulds asked the school board

Just listening to readers who live in the Texas City school district talk about the search for a new superintendent, I keep hearing two things:

First, folks would like the school board to find someone interested in what people who live in the school district think — even if that involves listening to criticism.

Second, they’d like the school board to find someone who is interested in improving education for average kids, not just the top of the class.

I heard the same things from Galveston folks when they were searching for a superintendent. Perhaps I’m biased and am just hearing what I want to hear. Or perhaps ordinary folks in more than one school district are looking for the same qualities in the people who lead our schools.

The Daily News has long argued for an open process in selecting the top leaders of local governments.

A good example of how to do it could be found in the hiring of Michael Kovacs, the new city manager in Galveston. City council members interviewed all the finalists in public. They also invited the public to meet the finalists at a reception.

Why is that such a big deal?

Because our elected representatives are elected to represent us. And because hiring a chief executive is the most important decision most of them will make.

Wouldn’t it be nice if they let you meet the candidates and asked your advice before they made that call?

In Texas, city councils are required to release the names of finalists for top jobs. School boards are required to release the names of candidates for important jobs — including athletic director.

But, after years of fighting Texas newspapers, lobbyists were able to get an exemption for superintendents into the state’s open records law.

So now, school boards have a choice. They can do what all other local governments must do and involve the public. Or they can make the decision and inform the public later.

Our Mainland editor, T.J. Aulds, a graduate of Texas City High School, sent a letter to each of the school board members in Texas City. He wrote:

“Given that state law allows a school district to withhold all information about candidates for superintendent ... would you consider making public the names of at least those candidates being interviewed so that residents of TCISD could voice their opinions about the possible candidates? If so why?

“Or will you follow the course many school board members take and withhold that information? If so why?

“Would you support having an open forum before any decision is made to allow the public and TCISD staff to ask questions or at least have a chance to hear what the candidates have to say? ... If so, why? If not, why not?”

All members of the school board were asked. We’ll let you know soon what they had to say.

Heber Taylor is editor of The Daily News.