As the School Board creates history by shifting tonight’s 7 o’clock meeting to City Hall where some long have hungered to convene, the School District appears to be moving closer to finding a new permanent Superintendent.
By the math of Board vice president Scott Zeidman, tomorrow night’s 6 o’clock meeting for parents at District headquarters will be the 17th community group session convened by the headhunters hired last month.
“Their goal is to meet with every community group that wants a say in what kind of superintendent should be selected,” Mr. Zeidman said.
He thinks that canvassing the entirety of Culver City is a superb idea, on general principles, but also because every member of the School Board still is wearing a Pretty New label.
Patricia Siever, Kathy Paspalis and Karlo Silbiger have logged less than 10 months. Board President Steve Gourley and Mr. Zeidman are rounding out their third year.
“It would be nice if the people who elected us, the people who told us what to do, would give us their input,” Mr. Zeidman said. “Meetings like tomorrow’s, with parents, is very important. While I have 20 percent of the vote, it is just one opinion. I would love to hear what everyone else has to say.
“I am sure I will find out that some things that were not important to me, are important to the community.
“I think we will find, the way we did during the City Manager search, that the community wants a ‘local person.’
“It makes sense,” he said, before helpfully tacking on “yes and no.”
To explain:
“Would you rather have a local person who works 9 to 5, checks out, goes home and watches six hours of television?
“Or, would you prefer somebody who lives a hundred miles away, gets here at 6 in the morning, leaves at 10 o’clock at night and does everything?
“Certainly the latter would be better because of the time he or she spends in the city, in the schools, doing the things that need to be done.
“Is it easier to do those things, show up for events, if you live locally? Of course.
“But is it legitimate?
“When we say we want somebody local, I think what we are probably saying is, ‘We want somebody who is going to be with the community, not coming in, doing the work and leaving.’
“It does not matter whether he or she lives within 10 miles, 40 miles, 20 miles. The commitment is to be here as many hours as necessary.
“Sure it is easier if you live here. I am at many, many events,” as hundreds or thousands across the community have known for three years, “and I live right around the corner.
“I show up at Farragut School in the morning because I happen to be at the Middle School (next door). Sure I will walk over and say hello.
“If you are 50 miles away, I would not have time to do that.”
