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Election Forum “Not Proper” to Discuss Superintendent’s Leadership Says Board President Kirby

October 19, 2012 by Daniel Menefee

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School Board President Brian Kirby said Tuesday that an election forum for Board of Education candidates was not the appropriate setting to discuss the job performance of KCPS Superintendent Barbara Wheeler—or whether she deserves to have her contract renewed.

“For me to sit at a public forum and say whether I think she is a good leader or not—I don’t think is proper, and I‘d rather not do that,” Kirby said.

(video is under two minutes)

Kirby was the only candidate of three to address a question on the effectiveness of Wheeler’s leadership.

Newcomer candidate Nivek Johnson and school board Vice President Bryan Williams remained silent on the question as Kirby appeared to speak for all the candidates on the fairness of the question.

“I think this is a tough forum for us to be put on the spot to say whether she is going to come back or not going to come back,” Kirby said at the League of Women Voters candidate forum at the Kent Library. “I just don’t think it is a fair question for us to answer. It’s not that it is not a good question. Obviously she is still the superintendent and she was doing a good enough job for our last board to continue her contract for four years.”

The school board does an annual evaluation of the school superintendent—the only position in the school system under the board’s control.

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Filed Under: Archives

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Letters to Editor

  1. Christine Betley says

    October 19, 2012 at 5:05 PM

    Is there a transcript or full video of this event available?

  2. Stan Salett says

    October 19, 2012 at 9:53 PM

    I disagree. It’s important for school board candidates to offer their opinions and judgements on the effectiveness of the school system that they are campaigning to govern. The School Superintendent as the system’s chief educational officer obviously has the essential leadership role in attempting to provide a quality education experience for all of the children under her supervision. The question should be asked and responses expected. The actual discussions of an elected board as to the Superintedent’s contract are considered an exception to the open meeting law and may be done in executive session

  3. Lainey Harrison says

    October 22, 2012 at 2:05 PM

    When might a better time be? After the election? Behind closed doors?

    • Mike Hunt says

      October 23, 2012 at 4:44 PM

      I agree. What is the point of running for office if you can’t (or won’t) discuss the strategic decisions you’re being elected to make? (and I have no opinion on the Superintendent’s leadership).

      • Lainey Harrison says

        October 24, 2012 at 1:13 PM

        Me either. I live in QAC and my kids attend QAC schools.

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