Barbara Erwin named first woman Education Commissioner

Of course, she won't be the first woman to lead the state schools. In the early 80's, when we elected our state superintendent, Alice McDonald ran the show. In those days the superintendent was something of a political hack and McDonald actually fought against school reform.

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Regarding the selection process for the new Commish, maybe somebody can explain this to me...

First, Mark Hebert reported the state "board met in executive session, narrowing its commissioner search down to three individuals. Board chairman Keith Travis referred [Hebert's] questions to search committee chair Bonnie Lash Freeman who refused to release the names of the three finalists for the state's top education job. Freeman initially told [Hebert] the board only plans to release the name of one finalist, the person the school board plans to hire. Freeman later said the board had not etched that plan in stone and might release the names of the three finalists AFTER the board interviews them in a few weeks."

Then, much to his credit, Governor Fletcher urged the state board to name their finalists - which they did....claiming, all evidence to the contrary, that they planned to do so all along.

So what does it mean when the state board of education meets, selects their finalist and then choses to defer action until early May? Is this a period of public discussion - so that the board may confirm, or change its mind - depending on the public input or new information brought to light? Or is the decision made - and the state just needs a couple of weeks to work out the details - in which case, we can all just stay quiet, because it's a done deal?

Evidence suggests that Fletcher did convince the state board to release the names of three finalists - then as quickly as possible, the state board returned to its original plan, and named one finalist.

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There is a good article in this morning's Courier-Journal which looks at the pros and cons of the selection; and some fluff in the Herald-Leader that tries very hard not to say anything negative.

Erwin apparently won the job by drinking deeply from the hopeful kool-aid.

Last month, Kentucky Department of Education officials told the board that fewer than 40 percent of the state's public schools are on target to meet those goals. Board members said the state needs to develop a "sense of urgency" to find a solution.

"I think it's a doable task," Travis said. "That will be the main objective of whoever the new commissioner will be."

Erwin said she thinks it is possible for every child to be proficient by 2014.

"Absolutely," she said. "That is why I need to meet the department staff and local superintendents as quickly as possible, so I can see who may need additional support. I believe it is our moral and ethical responsibility (to see) that all children can reach those goals."

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Is it fair for us to hold her to her word?

Should she be fired, and villified in the press if she fails? Or do we already know 100% proficiency is not going to happen on a bottom-of-the-barrel budget?

Don't we just love it when our leaders tell us we can do the impossible; on the cheap?