Editor’s Note
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Archive for February 10th, 2009

The WBBM news tip

2 comments February 10th, 2009

I was headed to Third Presbyterian Church Sunday morning just before 10 a.m., listening to an interview with former Chicago school superintendent Paul Vallas. The controversial “gold standard” for the CEO approach to leading large, troubled and usually urban school districts was talking about maybe being a candidate for the Cook County Board president’s spot against Todd Stroger.

I was just about to click to something more local when Vallas, who is now CEO-superintendent in New Orleans, turned his remarks to schools. Since I have long been a believer in that CEO approach, I stayed tuned. Vallas talked a lot about Chicago, New Orleans and Philadelphia (another of his CEO gigs), and then he dropped this: “…. and the approach is one that smaller districts should use, as well. Districts like Rockford and Peoria…..”

Sure, Vallas knows Rockford. He campaigned here as a gubernatorial candidate and our editorial board was among his supporters. It’s not beyond reason to assume Vallas knows a thing or two about the Rockford school district from back in the Dennis Thompson days (also a CEO approach), and because Vallas remains plugged into Illinois education and politics.

But, I’m a journalist and journalists don’t just shrug their shoulders when they hear something like that. I mean why was Rockford top of mind for Vallas Sunday morning? And, what’s up with Saturday’s Register Star story that the Rockford board had opened its superintendent search again. Was there a connection?

I think it’s safe to say Vallas isn’t the next school superintendent. He’s already committed to staying in New Orleans for the 2009-2010 year, and he’s talking about being a Cook County board president. Being Rockford school super doesn’t sound likely.

But the school board opening its search again and Vallas having Rockford top of mind on Sunday morning on WBBM, made me ask this: What WOULD Paul Vallas have to say about how the Rockford school board ought to approach its superintendent search.

Can’t hurt to ask. All it’ll cost is a phone call. We’re making it.

Meanwhile, back at the News Tower, Senior Editor Chuck Sweeny was asking a different set of questions and  Manufacturing 2.0 blogger, Bob Trojan, had his own take.

One thing for sure: Something is afoot, and if it means we’ll get a highly qualified, CEO approach to school leadership, that’s a very good thing.