Critics counter that since Ms. Jaffe is only in her first year as an Assistant Superintendent (of Human Resources), she lacks crucial experience as a top-tier manager.
The Pros and Cons
When Jaffe backers point out that Dr. McGaughey came directly to the Superintendent’s chair from a principal’s position, Jaffe critics say “That’s what we mean.”
From within the ranks of the School District, two other persons, both elementary school principals, have their advocates for the position.
They are Leslie Green of El Rincon and Vidda Brough of La Ballona. Whether the present groundswell for either will grow is speculative.
As the School Board sets about pursuing a new Superintendent during the next four months, tension likely will develop over the direction to follow.
How important is it to select the next leader from within?
Are there more, or just separate, advantages if the next superintendent comes from outside of the District?
A large number of parents and community activists who have observed the School District from close range during the nine-year term of Dr. McGaughey regard it as a caretaker period.
“Inactivity, more than any other concept, characterizes Laura’s time in office,” said a business owner who monitors the School Board and the District.
Beyond an assessment of the McGaughey Years or the name of her successor, another issue is burning among District insiders — the Superintendent’s presence in office until her self-determined end date on July 31.
When Is It Time to Go?
Some sources have flatly stated their fears that Dr. McGaughey may follow an increasingly common practice among executives in the workplace who announce their departure dates months in advance:
Rewarding loyalists with appointments to key staff positions to enhance the legacy of the soon to be dearly departed.
While there is some sentiment for setting Dr. McGaughey’s final date much closer to the April, sources believe her announced ending date will not change.
Meanwhile, the name of Marvin Brown, one of the School District’s senior administrators, has been mentioned as the choice to serve as Interim Superintendent if the search falters.
After numerous postings, Mr. Brown currently is head of the Adult School.
One District official who hopes to have a strong hand in the selection process said that “Dr. McGaughey is the opposite of the kind of leader we needed when we hired her, and she is the opposite of the kind of superintendent we need now.”
Speaking from District Headquarters on Irving Place, described the kind of profile he believes is essential but not likely to be met.
“I don’t want to see the new superintendent around here,” he said.
“He or she needs to be aggressive, not resting in the back office.
“The Superintendent needs to be out in the community, talking to people of influence, selling the District, getting grants, being a fundraiser.
“The person also needs to have an academic resume and a business background.
“ Remember, I said ‘that’s what we need.’ But I don’t believe that is what we are going to get, knowing the people who will do the voting (the School Board). They are not worried about their next election, so they are not worried about what people in the community think of their choices.
“If you have ever watched them, and I do, closely, they want somebody they can handle, somebody easy going, somebody pliable, somebody who won’t talk back. They want somebody who will go along — just as it is now.”
During the past four years, the time that the current School Board has been together,
it has been remarked on numerous occasions that a “too-cozy” relationship has burgeoned between the Board and its single employee.
Dr. McGaughey’s salary and benefits package are discussed and fine-tuned a “noticeable” amount of time.
As recently as last Tuesday night, reimbursement of Dr. McGaughey was argued loudly again, and those favoring boosting her package won out.
Moments later, after the meeting ended and the Board was in Closed Session, Dr. McGaughey disclosed her intention to retire.
Postscript
The most pejorative of several dark clouds poised over the School District — new contracts for the Teachers Union for last year and this year — came up for inspection a few hours ago.
Not everyone in the District is complaining about underfed salaries.
At a dinner for school administrators in Santa Monica this week, in conversations between Culver City and Santa Monica educators, Culver City representatives disclosed the news that they are soon to unscheduled raises while the teachers remain shut out.
No movement is anticipated in the stalled negotiations with the Teachers Union until at least April 17. The two sides are scheduled to meet with a mediator on that date.
