The Columbus Municipal School District is looking for new principals to take over Franklin Academy, Columbus Middle School and at Columbus High School beginning next year.
A group of citizens gathered inside the cafeteria at Columbus High School on Tuesday night to tell CMSD administrators what qualities they would like to see in an incoming principal. The meetings were open to anyone.
Before Spring Break, similar gatherings, with the same purpose, were held at Franklin Academy and Columbus Middle School.
When it comes to these gatherings, we want to say two things.
One, thank you Dr. Philip Hickman, the district’s superintendent.
As a newspaper we support every opportunity public bodies offer the public chances to be a part of, in small ways and bigs ways alike, decision-making that will affect our institutions.
It’s difficult to think of a more important public institution than our schools.
The city school district serves approximately 4,500 students. We all, whether we have children in the district or not, have a vested interest in how well or bad the school system does and not just because we all pay taxes that fund the schools. Our future as a community depends on how well each of those young minds do. When it comes to how the district operates and how it moves forward, our community members not only need to be heard, but have a right to be.
Hickman and CMSD administrators created an opportunity for that with these three gatherings.
Second, thank you to the people who showed up to weigh in on the searches for principals.
Almost 40 folks showed up at Columbus High on Tuesday night. At the Franklin Academy gathering, there were a little more than 20. At the Columbus Middle School gathering, about 35.
Those are not necessarily strong showings. But the rooms were not empty.
Those in attendance at each of the meetings discussed four questions: What characteristics will the ideal principal have? What is currently working at the schools? What changes should be made? What should the new principals know about our community?
We could go into the suggestions that were offered. But, for our purposes here, it does not matter. The people there care about the district — you could tell. We commend them for voicing how they feel.
We feel Columbus and CMSD are at a crossroads.
No school district is perfect. CMSD is no different. The state Department of Education has given the district a D rating for several years running. Also, stability is a key ingredient to success, and it’s been lacking at the top of the city school district: Hickman is the fourth superintendent to lead the district in less than five years. Part of stability for public institutions is creating a situation that allows and encourages public input, which fosters all-important public engagement.
We hope CMSD leadership takes what they heard Tuesday night and not only considers it, but learns from it.
We also hope they continue to offer these type of opportunities.
The Dispatch Editorial Board is made up of publisher Peter Imes, columnist Slim Smith, managing editor Zack Plair and senior newsroom staff.
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