Take Their Word for it. KBE Pleased with High Quality Candidates.

KSN&C continues to hear positive news about the number of high quality candidates for the position of Education Commissioner.

This is encouraging.

Unfortunately, it is also reminiscent of the glowing assurances offered by a prior board when Barbara Erwin was selected to the post in early 2007.

But having concluded three days of interviews earlier this week with a dozen semifinalists, members are still tight-lipped about whether the search process will include any opportunity for the public to weigh in on the finalists before a final decision is made.

Maybe that will happen - or maybe not.

The best I can understand; the general sentiment among board members seems to be that the board has been given a sacred trust (my words, not theirs) to act on behalf of the public and they serve the public interest by acting on our behalf. The public should simply trust the board to do what's best.

A bit paternalistic if you ask me. That attitude wasn't acceptable during the Fletcher administration and it shouldn't be during the Beshear administration. No one doubts that the final decision belongs to the board.

The public should trust - but first, it should verify.

Since some candidates want secrecy, and openness might reduce the pool of candidates for this very public position, one wonders if the personalities of some candidates is what it ought to be.

What is the big downside for one's candidacy being known anyway? As was suggested recently, why wouldn't finalists simply say to their current bosses, “I’m flattered that Kentucky asked me to interview, and I look forward to exchanging ideas with some of the most innovative educators in the country. But I love my current job.”

In fact commissioner applicant, Tom Shelton, already delivered the line:

“If I don’t get the position, I still win. I get to stay in Daviess County, a district I love,” he said. “If I get it, I will be in a position to help the whole state.” The application process itself is a good experience, no matter the outcome, since he gets to share his experiences and ideas with the board, Shelton [told the Messenger-Inquirer].

Are we seeking secretive persons for this very public position? Is the board looking for the kinds of folks who naturally operate in the full light of day? Are our finalists tough enough for the job ahead?

Shelton tells KSN&C that his board understood because he has been open with them and they have been very supportive. He even sought their advice in advance.

My Board has been very supportive and understands why I felt the need to apply. They also know that I did not make my application plans a secret. I talked with many different people and groups about the possibility of me applying to get input and advice. Because of this we knew that it was only a matter of time before the media picked up on my application. I have not received any negative feedback from my Board or anyone else. I only hope that it did not put the State Board into a difficult position as they have a tough job in managing this process and making their selection.

Board Chair Joe Brothers reports,

The Kentucky Board of Education has received 80+ applications for the commissioner of education's position and overall we are pleased at the quality of the candidates. At the June meeting, the board narrowed the field to a group of semifinalists that were interviewed on June 15-16 in Cincinnati. From this group, we will likely choose the finalists to bring in for a second round of interviews. Our hope is to have the new commissioner in place by late summer. Stay tuned for more details as we move through the search process.

KDE spokesperson Lisa Gross tells KSN&C that the board interviewed 12 candidates including some in-state applicants.

The diversity of those candidates is not crystal clear but "board members indicated that they had a diverse pool, and the search firm has said that, of the 80 or so applicants that comprised the larger pool, 46% were either female or minorities," Gross said.

Since race is no longer indicated on job applications, and the question of ethnicity could not be raised during the interviews - it may be inappropriate, difficult or impossible to judge candidates visually - the degree of racial diversity represented among the candidates is not certain.

The board plans to meet again on July 2 to review the reference checks on the 12 semifinalists they interviewed.

Gross adds an encouraging note,

I expect that there will be more information after that meeting. The board has not yet come to a final decision on when and how to release the names of finalists.

One hopes that following the July 2 meeting the board takes some time to conduct their own due diligence - research that goes beyond what references have to say - and that three finalists are announced with a period of a couple of weeks for public input.

Strong candidates and an open process gives the state its best chance to identify a commissioner who commands broad public support and who can effectively lead Kentucky through School Reform 2.0.