Bad Advice from KDE lands Superintendent in Hot Water

Frankfort Independent Schools Superintendent Dianne Cobb broke laws in the process of hiring a new high school principal but did so under authorization of the Kentucky Department of Education, according to a state investigation. As a result, she has been ordered to attend training on how to work with school councils.

The ruling stems from complaints sent to the Office of Education Accountability following Cobb's hiring of Rita Rector as Frankfort High School principal.

In a memo sent to Cobb and Kentucky Department of Education Commissioner Jon Draud several weeks ago, investigators examine[d] the realignment of the school district to create a new school at FHS by moving middle school grades, whether Cobb impeded the SBDM council process for council elections and staff hiring, whether Cobb violated statues by failing to post a FHS principal vacancy and/or violated Kentucky law by selecting Rita Rector as FHS principal.

The OEA investigation found,

* Hiring of a new principal was not justified because the Frankfort Independent Board of Education did not create a new high school when it added seventh- and eighth-grade students to FHS.

* Cobb prevented the election of parent and teacher council members for terms beginning July 1, 2007, even though she knew a pool of candidates as early as February 2007.

* Cobb violated state statutes by failing to post the open FHS principal position for 30 days, when the position became vacant in February 2007 and instead posted the vacancy June 26.

While Cobb's actions were direct violations, the report states they were taken on advice and approval of the KDE's Division of Leadership and Instructional Support.

Cobb, whose contract with FIS ends June 30, said the investigation stems from a misunderstanding. She says she acted under the advice of KDE when making decisions and when she found out decisions did not meet regulations she immediately corrected them.

This from the State-Journal.