Superintendent search just the first test for dueling school board factions

It was almost 9:30 p.m. on Jan. 25 when the special school board meeting ended after more than four hours. Board members had just chosen Samuel King, superintendent of the Rockdale County (Ga.) Public Schools, as the lone finalist to become the next superintendent of the East Baton Rouge Parish School System, rejecting three other semifinalists, including Herman Brister, the system’s chief academic officer. No one, however, seemed happy with the outcome. On the way out, one board member grumbled to another, “What do they have against Dr. Brister?” Other members stayed behind and consoled one another, fearing the decision they had just made eventually would lead to more state takeovers; at least one board member appeared to be sobbing. Moments before, three speakers from the audience—practically the only people remaining—had berated the board for the “asinine” process that got them to this point. “Who would want to come here after that?” said Carnell Washington, president of the local branch of the Louisiana Federation of Teachers. “It is not about your constituents. It is about the children. I could care less what grown people think … I think we really need some healing.” Read the rest of the latest Business Report cover story by David Jacobs here.