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.

Frankfort educators pleased with Noland

Local district educators say they are pleased with the state school board's decision to keep its current interim education commissioner until a new one is found.

Dianne Cobb, superintendent for Frankfort Independent Schools, said she is satisfied the Kentucky Board of Education voted in a special meeting Saturday to allow Kevin Noland to continue to work as interim commissioner. "Mr. Noland knows where the state of Kentucky is at this point," Cobb said. "He's proven himself before as an interim. I feel like it's an excellent idea (to allow him to remain in the position)."

Franklin County Schools Superintendent Harrie Lynne Buecker agreed. "I think Kevin has certainly provided Kentucky educators stability and continuity during this time," Buecker said.

Since the resignation of Barbara Erwin, an Illinois educator who was originally named to the post despite controversy surrounding her resume and management styles, the board has called two special meetings to develop a plan for moving forward. Buecker said Kentucky has been working longer than other states on its education reform. She said someone with firsthand knowledge of the system would understand how to move Kentucky forward in its education goals.

Cobb said she also thinks schools would benefit from the board selecting someone from Kentucky to be commissioner. "It seems somebody from Kentucky could possibly fill that position adequately," she said.

Thousands of dollars have been spent on the search for the new commissioner. The board originally used the search firm Ray and Associates to find candidates for the position, which led to Erwin.

Cobb said there is nothing wrong with using a search firm to fill the state's highest education position, but the board may want to consider a different firm for the next search. She said there may be liability insurance to help the state recover some of the money lost from the unfruitful search and she believes the board will not make the same mistake this time around. "I'm sure the board will not let that happen again," Cobb said.

Cobb said there is no immediate impact on her district stemming from the education commissioner situation but there could be long-term effect. "It's been business as usual,"

Buecker said, regarding the role the commissioner search is playing in her district. She said her staff is willing to assist the new commissioner when a selection is made. "All of us in our district will do whatever we can to help when the new commissioner is named," Buecker said.

The board did not set a timetable for hiring another commissioner and is planning to do an in-house search, KDE spokeswoman Lisa Gross said. -The Associated Press contributed to this story.

This from the State-Journal.