Legislature Should Keep Its Hands Off The State Superintendent Search

“The ‘if it ain't broke, don't fix it’ award for the 2016 Maryland General Assembly Session clearly goes to House Bill 570/Senate Bill 404: State Board of Education — State Superintendent of Schools — Appointment. In a nutshell, it seeks to monkey with a century-old process that has produced one of the top school systems in the country for no discernible reason.

“Well, that's not exactly true. The bill's sponsors have provided rationales for the idea that the state school board's choice for a new superintendent should be subject to confirmation by the Senate. They just don't make much sense.

“Sen. Paul Pinsky, a Prince George's County Democrat and the lead sponsor in the Senate, testified at a hearing on the bill that the legislation was necessary to add stability to the state Department of Education. ‘We are currently in a period where the State Board of Education is seeking a new superintendent,’ he said by way of introducing the bill. ‘It'll be the fourth superintendent in five years, six years — I'm not sure what it's been. I'm not sure if the turnover is because of or in spite of the board's structure.’

“Turnover? We'll admit that the tenure of the most recent superintendent, Lillian Lowery, was short by Maryland standards at three years. But that's only because of the extraordinary longevity of her predecessors. …

“Since the current method of selecting superintendents was enacted in 1916, seven people have held the job. (Mr. Pinsky is counting interim superintendents who served between Ms. Grasmick and Ms. Lowery and the one holding down the seat now while the board searches for a new, permanent appointee.)

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