ACHTUNG: This is not a “fair and balanced” article. It is an editorial by the editor.
Those of you who believe I am totally opposed to Monday’s appointment of former Superintendent Norm Taylor to a seat on the Wayland Board of Education are only half right.
I would have supported his selection if he had pledged to serve only until the end of the year in an effort to plug a gap created temporarily by the resignation of Board Treasurer Toni Ordway. Because of time constraints, Taylor’s experience and expertise would have been most welcome between now and January, and this would enable those interested in serving to file next month for the open seats on the board on a more permanent basis.
But no.
Taylor made no promise to serve only for six months and not one current board member even asked him in his interview if he would be willing to do so. They only read canned perfunctory questions that revealed nothing of importance.
As a matter of principle, I oppose retired chief executive officers returning to the scene of their former business to serve in a different capacity. Such a move creates an awkward situation for the incoming superintendent, Tim Reeves, who now will be serving at the pleasure of his predecessor and six others, over whom the former superintendent may well have considerable influence.
In a nutshell, it’s not good government. Nor is it good boardsmanship.
I wrote an editorial earlier this year, telling the true story of Wayland High School graduate Ozzie Parks, who was flim-flammed and scapegoated by former Maple Valley Supt. Carroll Wolff and his right-hand man, Ron Tobias, before finally being unceremoniously shown the door. I called it a cautionary tale to warn the board of potential pitfalls of a former school superintendent serving in a legislative and policy-making role.
Apparently, members of this school board ignored such uppity and impertinent advice and decided to just forge ahead regardless.
I hereby urge Mr. Taylor to refrain from being a candidate for school board in the November election, but understand it’s about as likely as Donald Trump not seeking to control the electoral process in the United States of America.
I also hereby wish success and smooth sailing for new Supt. Tim Reeves, but I am skeptical of its likelihood.
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