Next School Supt: No More Politicians, Please

In selecting the next School Superintendent, a word of wisdom: no politicians, please.

The current School Superintendent, Dr. JOSEPH JOYNER, Ed.D., actually endorsed corrupt St. Johns County Sheriff DAVID SHOAR f/k/a "HOAR," refusing requests to explain himself as to what possessed him to endorse "TWO SHOTS" SHOAR.

This stinks.

In Night Comes to the Cumberlands, Harry Caudill writes of Eastern Kentucky "school dictators" who abuse school superintendent gigs to build corrupt political machines, using teachers and school employees as bullets in their guns. Enough flummery, dupery and nincompoopery from the St. Johns County School Board, whose failure to report to federal and state antitrust law enforcement officials possible bid rigging (one bid for Aberdeen K-8 School) is noteworthy.

Despicable.

Here's the St. Augustine Record article on the selection of the next School Superintendent -- notice that the inside track is held by political insider TIMOTHY FORSON, ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT, whose expertise is nickeling and diming teachers and other employees, union-busting, buildings and transportation, not education.



Superintendent selection narrows, three names stand out
Posted: August 23, 2016 - 11:16pm | Updated: August 24, 2016 - 6:39am
By EMELIA HITCHNER
emelia.hitchner@staugustine.com

The list of superintendent candidates thinned once again during the St. Johns County School Board workshop Tuesday with seven out of nine applicants advancing into the semifinalist stage.

But the list wasn’t without debate. Several board members preferred as few as three candidates and spent an extensive amount of time discussing whether less popular selections should make the cut.

“I, for one, have already made my mind up,” said school board member Bill Mignon.

Mignon voted to advance internal candidates Tim Forson and Brennan Asplen as well as national candidate Elizabeth Alves.

Bev Slough made the same selections and said she felt many of the other candidates lacked experience.

School board chair Patrick Canan also favored Forsen and Alves, but did not vote for Asplen.

“At some point I’m going to have to choose between the two,” Canan reasoned.

Although all board members expressed respect for both district applicants, Forson’s name was the one that triumphed.

“We need someone to pick up where Dr. Joyner left off,” Mignon said. “Tim Forson has worked with Dr. Joyner very closely for several years.”

Both Forson and Alves received five votes from board members, while Asplen received four, Key West candidate Mark Porter received two and remaining names received one.

Board members Kelly Barrera and Tommy Allen made seven selections and encouraged the others to “keep an open mind.”

“When it comes to interviewing anyone, it comes down to their judgment. Their knowledge is important, their experience is important,” Barrera said. “But when you’re in a leadership position, it comes down to judgment. So for me, that’s why I want to do all the candidates.”

Collectively, the board agreed to send all seven candidates the six-question semifinalist survey which is due Sept. 2. The board will review the surveys and choose finalists for the interview phase at the Sept. 6 board workshop.

The school district is offering, at minimum, a three-year contract with a salary range of $165,000 to $195,000 plus benefits. Interviews will take place the first week in October and the finalist will be selected Oct. 11.

COMMENTS
Banana 08/24/16 - 07:12 am 20Is anyone else surprised?
Oh look at who has "favor." Surprised? Yeah. Me neither. Follow the (tax referendum) money. The good ol' boy network is alive and well. Where are the change agents and the advocates for taxpayers? Shut out of the conversation, that's where.