East Baton Rouge School System Superintendent John Dilworth says he will not seek to renew his contract when it expires at the end of June 2012. Dilworth told some board members of his decision last night, and made it official with an e-mail to members this morning. Board President Barbara Freiberg says she was surprised by the decision, and says she will organize a meeting soon to discuss the next steps. Freiberg stressed the decision changes nothing right now. “The news today doesn’t change the fact that this school system, I believe, is headed in the right direction,” she says. The system is just beginning a community-led process that will create a new strategic plan, she says.
In April 2010, Dilworth announced he planned to resign as superintendent, nine months after he started as chief of the East Baton Rouge public school system. Three weeks later, he held a press conference to announce he had changed his mind and intended to stay on as superintendent. At the time, board members said he wanted to step down because he was frustrated with receiving micromanagement from some school board members. A majority of the board has turned over, because of resignations and an election. Dilworth arrived from Montgomery, Ala., where he served as superintendent for two years. He also worked in the Caddo Parish Schools system from 1986–2003.
Today’s poll question: How would you grade John Dilworth’s performance as East Baton Rouge school superintendent?
