It is surprising that despite a significant amount of anxiety about the Kent County Public School system this year, the current race for the two open seats on the Board of Education has been met with a mild indifference by the general community this fall. After relentless debate and frustration about a drop in student test scores, and more budget cuts, whatever concerns voters had in the future of Kent County public education has been crowded out by presidential politics and a long list of state referendums. Unfortunately, this is a missed opportunity for the county to set the agenda for its schools.
Perhaps another factor is that the two incumbents have met their responsibilities well during their term of office.
In reviewing the record of board members Bryan Williams and Brian Kirby during the last few years, both have shown a seriousness of purpose under the most extraordinary circumstances facing a small school system. Those include a massive school consolidation project and a crippling loss of special project funding. During that time, Mr. Kirby and Mr. Williams have demonstrated sound stewardship, marked by maturity, which have resulted in good decisions based on very limited options. They deserve to be re-elected.
Despite this endorsement, there remains much work to be done for the Board. In short, they must transition from budget crisis management to a long term leadership role. In their next term, fundamental questions like how a small and relatively poor county can excel with less money, or who has the talent and expertise at the superintendent level to manage this new reality will be paramount. At the same time, the board must also expect and encourage bold experimentation to improve core skill proficiency for students.
This kind transition for the School Board will not be an easy one. All five members will need to be more demanding and questioning in matters of efficiency, performance, and accountability in supporting teachers and county staff reach their goals. And they will also need to reach out more to the outstanding number of education experts in the community for advice and support to help solve the daunting challenges ahead. The odds are in Kent County’s favor that they will be able to grow into this new level of leadership.
As for Nivek Johnson, the third candidate in the race, it is hoped he will not be discouraged if he fails in his first race for public office. He is a talented, serious 18-year-old man eager to follow in his grandmother’s tradition in serving on the Board of Education. There is little doubt that he has a good grasp of the issues as well as level of confidence rarely found in a person so young. It is encouraging to see someone of his character in the arena.
Bob Kramer says
Full card B-I-N-G-O on this piece. As we move forward our public schools have to become an economic asset rather than the perceived economic burdeb that many citizens see it as. We have many good things happening that we all should take note of.
BTW, most folks don’t know that we’re one of the few public school systems in the country with our own radio station and planetarium!
Brenda Bjvoice says
Both Kent and Queen Anne’s Counties also have access to Washington College. The College should have a role in setting the agenda for the public schools. It offers so much. Teachers can refresh content and get new ideas for their classrooms simply by attending free lectures. I saw school children going into the Gallery just yesterday and I was simply passing through. The College owns the KCBOE and the Armory; how can those spaces be used for mutual benefit? College students can get service learning hours doing one-to-one reading with children. Where are those programs?