Top 5: Answers I'd like to hear at Wednesday's school board meeting
The Ann Arbor Public Schools Board of Education meets Wednesday night, for the first time since Superintendent Patricia Green handed her letter of resignation to President Deb Mexicotte at the end of the last meeting.
It's been a long week for the schools and the community, as we're left to consider so many steps in the future: Decisions need to be made on how to replace Green, and whether anything in the district or the process should change at the same time. Coinciding with that: The district is pursuing "business as usual," educating 16,000 students and confronting a moving target of budget cuts.
In light of all that, here are the top five answers I'd like to have from tonight's meeting:
1. Why is Patricia Green making this decision now?
There's plenty of discussion over what's next, and Mexicotte told the community in a letter that she thinks Green did a good job in many key areas. The timing of the letter was good: We heard from district leadership at the exact same time that we learned Green was leaving.
But here's what's missing: A reason. Yes, we get that it's her choice and that the step is retirement. And we have to trust that the school board will get in front of the endless critical issues it faces over the coming months.
But it feels wrong that one of the highest-paid superintendents in Michigan gets to walk away without providing enough information to let us know why. Is it personal? At her level, she should be able to convey that without giving away details that invade privacy.
Is it the district? The board? The public, including criticism? She should be able to convey that in a constructive way, too.
And on a related note:
2. Is resigning two years into a five-year contract really not worth a comment to this community besides a prepared statement?
Let's face it: Our expectations for communication from Green already are low. She set the tone for public silence from the superintendent's office early, and she stuck to it. I was incredulous that we didn't get more leadership from her during the Pioneer-Huron brawl, when it became obvious over months that leadership was sorely needed due to the range of emotions that festered across this community. We got a written statement, then silence.
So while we may not expect more from Green, we should expect more from a superintendent — especially one who's leaving. She trained us to know she'll be silent, but that doesn't mean that's OK.
3. Why has so little changed in the last two years that the same reports that accompanied Todd Roberts' hiring in 2006 could be written today?
Consider this from an AnnArbor.com story about his resignation in 2010:
Employee morale was low. Board members were trying to figure out how a construction project had gotten a year behind schedule and millions of dollars over budget. Budget cuts were looming. Key administrative posts were open. A redistricting process had caused hurt feelings among some parents.
Roberts was credited with solving much of that. Yet today, description of all of it — except the Skyline construction and redistricting — fits what the next superintendent will face.
That means we only lost ground since Roberts left, and that's not good enough, either.
4. Why was zero-based budgeting the focus of Green's resignation letter?
Is it really a success? What kinds of concerns do teachers and building administrators have about it? Are they even getting the information they need to make it work? And why is it important?
It's the second paragraph of a two-paragraph resignation letter, yet we're left to just accept Green's assertion that "this is absolutely essential to the future of the District."
5. What were Green's shortcomings?
This is not finger-pointing, and shouldn't be presented as such. We've seen what the board's president views as significant accomplishments — that was a gracious act.
But for this district to move forward, to regain lost leadership ground, to give us all a chance to coalesce around what we're all warned are the tough budget decisions that are looming, we need to also acknowledge what didn't work. Beyond gracious, that's good management.
That kind of assessment is coming from the public, fueled in part by Green's silence.
We also need to see our district leaders publicly conduct that kind of gut-level, analytical assessment.
The school board meeting starts at 5:30 p.m. at the Huron High School Media Center.
Paula Gardner is Editor of AnnArbor.com. She can be reached by email or follow her on Twitter.
Comments
snapshot
Fri, Apr 19, 2013 : 2:06 a.m.
I agree with Gloriagirl, why do folks keep voting Mexicotte and others into offic and then complain about the excessive turnover and nothing getting done to address budget issues? Keep voting no on school millages to force a change in BOA leadership because I feel the board is the problem.
Gloriagirl
Thu, Apr 18, 2013 : 3:56 p.m.
If this was a scientific experiment one would look for the constant in different scenarios. That being a number of same board members.
Jim Mulchay
Thu, Apr 18, 2013 : 2:11 a.m.
Just speculation - Superintendent Green is a long-term professional educator. I'd expect she came to Ann Arbor with some thought on what she could accomplish - not instead of what the community wanted, but along with the community. And the money and prestige (?) counted for something. I suspect that what she found was (1) a state that is more concerned with funding high-profile colleges than k-12 public schools; (2) a state with serious financial issues; (3) a school district and community that wants everything without hurting anyone's feelings; (4) school board and professional staff issues outside of her control; (5) suspicion of her motives from the beginning due to the bloated salary; So I'd suspect that her spouse said one day - "Do you really feel that you can achieve anything there? If not, then get out and let them try to find someone they want to work with"; Just speculating
jns131
Wed, Apr 17, 2013 : 10:29 p.m.
Here is one question I do not see. What are you going to do about top heavy Balas? It is long over due to cut this thing in half. Our source. Anything but keeping t his thing over budget.
Retiree Newcomer
Wed, Apr 17, 2013 : 9:30 p.m.
Good questions -- and yes, Ms. Green does owe the board and the community an answer as to why she is resigning. If it is purely personal, that's one thing, but in that case, what changed in the two years since she signed a 5-year contract. If it is not purely personal, the board and community deserve to hear what educational elements led her to this decision. Did she feel she was unable to get along with the board? Did she feel the board was not functioning in a way with which she could work? Did she feel she had lost community support, and if so, what issues contributed to this feeling? Once again, I say that even if Ann Arbor is a very desireable place for a superintendent to work (as it should be), then why does this district have such a revolving door? Three year tenures or less is not good for the education of the district's students.
Brad
Wed, Apr 17, 2013 : 9:23 p.m.
Does Dr. Green "owe" us an explanation? No. Would it be the professional thing to do? Absolutely.
Steve Bean
Wed, Apr 17, 2013 : 9:10 p.m.
Thanks for that piece, Paula. Perhaps the learning opportunity in this situation (the gift from Dr. Green, if you will) is to realize that no one person, not even the superintendent, is responsible for everything that goes on within the district or has the power to make up for the actions of others, the football brawl being a case in point. And believing the thought that *any* single person could have mended the emotional impacts of that event is simply lying to ourselves. As for expectations in general, a wise friend of mine used to say that expectations are the seeds of resentment.
DonBee
Wed, Apr 17, 2013 : 9:10 p.m.
Ms. Gardner - Thank you for your questions, they are good ones. A good board and a good superintendent would answer them honestly to the community. I will not hold my breath that any of them will get an answer, at least a public one, rumors will circulate for years on these very questions, which will be unfortunate for the community. Mr Panitch - Thank you for the link, it is better than the resource I was using. Ms. Kraut - Thank you for the link to your site and the work that you are doing. I hope some of the board members take the time to look at what you have written. All - This is a mess, it is not going away soon. In less than 90 days we will again be without a Superintendent, the laundry list of priorities will be unfulfilled, and the district will face a tough summer and fall. Given the changes in some of the programs that are underway, I would not be surprised by one or more lawsuits against the district by September/October. Who ever comes in to take this job will have to start from a much deeper hole than Dr. Green started from.
A2comments
Wed, Apr 17, 2013 : 9:04 p.m.
Interesting points Paula, but I have to disagree on one and bring up another. Deb Mexicotte's letter was a very bad idea. Why on earth did she spend time singing the praises of a person that just quit 21 months into a 60 month contract? What is she trying to gain? Covering her rear? Providing Green with a "reference" when the district declines to provide one for legal reasons? Second, I was flabbergasted that Deb Mexicotte raised the issue of whether the search firm has to give us a free search. Why on earth would you voice that? The job of the board is to protect the students and the taxpayers, NOT a search firm. You discuss with your lawyer, IN PRIVATE, the contract, and then you TELL the search firm that you expect a free search under the terms of the contract. You DON'T open your mouth and voice doubt as to whether or not they have to give you a free search. That's absolutely mind numbing. It wasn't 2 years. She gave 90 days notice 21 months into a 2 year contract. Therefore, they owe us a new search for free. PERIOD.
Kilgore Trout
Wed, Apr 17, 2013 : 8:45 p.m.
Johnnya2 seems to be confusing Ms. Green as a simple at-will employee and not a resigning two years into a five-year contracted #1 highest-salaried superintendent in Michigan
A Voice of Reason
Wed, Apr 17, 2013 : 8 p.m.
!. Where are the computers? 2. Do we have a new Principal for Skyline? Not sure they should spend one more minute on Pat Green. Need to find an interim and move on.
pseudo
Wed, Apr 17, 2013 : 6:27 p.m.
These are great questions Paula and I think the other commenters are correct too: they won't be answered. As johnnya2 makes, those aren't correct either. It is our business, literaly, because it is our tax money and she's still getting paid with our tax money. I don't think we can make her answer the question - but it would be a level of honesty that would brighten this situation. What I would like to know is this: what is the everage tenure for a Superintendant for a public system this size? Do different board structures make a difference in that number? Committees tend to make poor hiring decisions so I would expect this kind of turnover to continue but I would hope it becomes less frequent.
Ruth Kraut
Wed, Apr 17, 2013 : 6:22 p.m.
I have extensive discussions about this on my blog. I posted a survey when Pat Green tendered her resignation, asking people what they thought about her; why they thought she was leaving; and what they would look for in a future superintendent. I then posted the survey results as Parts 1, 2, and 3. Then I offered my own thoughts about why Pat Green is leaving. (That is a 4th post.) Finally, I posted the key criteria that I am looking for in a new superintendent--that is the fifth post. Find it all at : Ann Arbor Schools Musings, a2schoolsmuse.blogspot.com
MyOpinion
Wed, Apr 17, 2013 : 8 p.m.
Wow. The AAPS ought to pay you for your nice summary, worth at least $1,000 x hours spent on compiling these musings. Amazing how the school district pays outside consultants versus someone who is clearly interested in education; is local; has the required skills to do a report.
Paula Gardner
Wed, Apr 17, 2013 : 6:45 p.m.
Thanks, Ruth. I saw an early version of your posts and was happy to see the interest from your readers.
Jack Panitch
Wed, Apr 17, 2013 : 5:47 p.m.
Ms. Gardner: Your question 4 has been on my mind for the last several days, so I have tried to educate myself. The link below is to the National Conference of State Legislature's brief entitled Zero Based Budgeting in the States. There are a ton of resources out there, though. http://tinyurl.com/c6nyhso
johnnya2
Wed, Apr 17, 2013 : 5:33 p.m.
1. Paticia Green is no longer an employee and owes you NOTHING as to why she is leaving. Maybe she did not like Pioneer purple. So what, she is leaving, that is her choice and really not yours to question or wonder why 2.When would have been the time? Three years? Four Years? Her decision is again none of your business. She is no longer an employee. When I leave an employer I am not required to tell that employer why I left. Maybe I felt like it, maybe I saw a better opportunity. maybe I read letters from people who have never run a school trying to tell me how to do my job. 3. The same thing could be said 10 years ago, 20 years ago and probably 30 years ago. Parents have hurt feelings whenever something that involves THEIR kids happens. If not, they ignore it. 4. Because that is what Mrs Green decided to focus her letter on. Why would you expect the school board to know the answer to that question? 5. Not relevant. Organizations that are forward thinking, do not dwell on what others shortcomings are, they set a plan to find somebody to run the organization. Monday morning quarterbacks do no good. I do not need to know why Rich Rod was a failure as a coach at UM, I need to know what is being done to make Brady Hoke a success. THAT is a far more important question to ask,.
kuriooo
Thu, Apr 18, 2013 : 12:07 a.m.
I agree that while technically she doesn't have to give reasons as to why she is leaving, the timing of her resignation announcement seems to indicate that there was another undisclosed issue. Not technically needed, but would show goodwill to the community given that she is leaving rather abruptly and not during the season normally specified for superintendent searches.
mibadger
Wed, Apr 17, 2013 : 8:49 p.m.
And the 5 year contract was HER idea.
ccsummer
Wed, Apr 17, 2013 : 8:11 p.m.
Cannot agree at all. It would be very helpful for us to know why she's choosing to leave after stating, upon her hiring, that she intended to stay around for a long time. Why she's leaving could help us take a look at how our school system functions and why we can't hold onto a superintendent. AND, she is definitely still an employee.
Susie Q
Wed, Apr 17, 2013 : 6:59 p.m.
Well, as I far as I know, she is still an employee until 90 days after her resignation letter, which was April 10. So I am guessing she will be paid until the first or second week in July and remains an employee.
Nicholas Urfe
Wed, Apr 17, 2013 : 6:53 p.m.
She had a 5 year contract. Her early departure throws the district into turmoil. Your comments ignore that contract, which she agreed to. She cashed the checks.
EyeHeartA2
Wed, Apr 17, 2013 : 5:58 p.m.
"Paticia Green is no longer an employee " Until she get is no longer paid she is. The rest of your post goes downhill from there..
Nicholas Urfe
Wed, Apr 17, 2013 : 4:04 p.m.
This district will never ever ask the hard questions about "things gone wrong". To do so would admit they could be wrong about anything. From that perspective they are exactly like the Detroit City Council.
J. A. Pieper
Wed, Apr 17, 2013 : 10:08 p.m.
Yes, AAPS definitely sweeps things under the rug!
towncryer
Wed, Apr 17, 2013 : 3:51 p.m.
Great questions Paula, but I don't think #5 will ever be answered by the BOE, at least in public.