Untransparent search for the NCS superintendent

The search for a new superintendent for Newark City Schools began May 13, 2009, in cooperation with Ohio School Boards Association and its consultant, Kathy LaSota.

The search, according to an Advocate report, would be “transparent.” LaSota said “community members should have input and see the process as it happens ... We want this whole process to be as open and transparent as possible,” she said.

Mark Christenberry, NCS board vp, concurred. The Advocate quoted him as saying: “We’re really trying hard to make this an open process ... There will be no transparency issues.”

Really?

With the deadline for applications 10 days from today, and the decision scheduled for less than one month from today, to my knowledge there has yet to be the first shred of an update on the search and the candidates, and the first word yet to be published at the NCS web site about any of this.

So how is NCS defining “transparency?” So far, this just one more ham-handed disappointment delivered by NCS to an already disillusioned and disbelieving constituency. This, even though a perfect example of what is meant by “transparency” was demonstrated to the NCS administration in Judge Hoover’s selection process for a new board member.

NCS still marches to the beat of its own drum.

Untransparently.