The Maryland Association of Boards of Education will begin reviewing next week the applications for the Worcester County Superintendent of Schools position. Current Superintendent Dr. Jerry Wilson is moving on but agreed to remain on the job through June 30, 2017.
With the application deadline Aug. 15 and interviews expected to take place before October, it’s likely Wilson will be able to step away a lot sooner if all goes well with the search process.
Although there’s no word on how many applications have been received, I do know one of the individuals who officially wants the job is Lou Taylor, current chief operating officer. A few months back, I encouraged the school system to forgo the expensive national search process and simply appoint Taylor. Surprisingly, my advice was not heeded and the national search was launched.
As the principal of the largest high school on the Eastern Shore, Stephen Decatur High, Taylor proved his mettle as an effective leader of people and students. That reputation has only grown in his Board of Education post over the last several years. Terms outlined for the ideal candidate in the job posting included “consensus builder,” “experienced administrator,” “a passionate advocate for children,” and “an innovative, engaged leader.”
The only negative against Taylor is he does not have a doctorate, which is “preferred” in the job posting, but I think that should be overlooked because of the other positives Taylor brings. He fits all the qualifications and is invested in this community in numerous ways. He’s a familiar face to many segments of our society and that’s needed. Worcester County schools haven’t had that since Dr. Jon Andes retired.
Most of all he understands how Worcester County government works and he has lived through as a principal and Newark administrator the ongoing disconnect that has existed between the Board of Education and the Worcester County Commissioners. At times, it’s an oppositional relationship, which is not productive when working toward providing funding to educate our kids.
Taylor stands to have more success in breaking through the divide between the two government bodies than an outsider unfamiliar with the local goings on, the recent history and the unique personalities involved. Recent history confirms that can be a challenge.
What took place at City Hall regarding a tree that hangs over part of a sidewalk in downtown Ocean City was a head scratcher.
Referring to the hypothetical liability issue that would arise for the city if someone was injured walking or biking under the tree on the sidewalk, the City Council ruled, in a 6-1 vote, the tree must be trimmed to allow for seven feet of clearance. That essentially means the tree will have to go because the tree will not survive if it’s cut at the trunk in that fashion.
This hubbub is supposedly the result of a complaint filed, but I question whether this came from a private citizen or just an individual (perhaps an appointed or elected official) paying more attention to the area because of the water tower construction across the street.
The problem is once a complaint is logged the city must investigate the situation and there are liability issues for the city if a person hits his or head on a branch. This is a situation that rightly so infuriates the couple who owns the property. Their comments sum up the response most people would have, considering the grand scope of all the things influencing Ocean City during the summer months.
“I really think City Hall has better issues to address than one lone pine tree which has probably been on the property since its construction in 1948 and before street-widening, sidewalks and tree regulations were in place …,” a letter the couple penned reads. “Talk about beautification. Never mind that they have burned and/or torn down the blocks in two directions from our property, along with the grass, vegetation and trees. Or that our block has looked like a war zone these past nine months with the drilling operation on 1st Street and the ongoing construction of the giant water tower overshadowing our house.”
Nonetheless, the council maintains once the complaint was filed, the city had no other option than to protect itself from a liability standpoint and maintain the seven-foot clearance. That’s fair, but what’s equally understandable is for rational people to conclude this was an asinine situation, particularly if the complaint did not stem from a private citizen as I understand is the case. I wonder if the “tree police” have ever looked around other neighborhoods in Ocean City. There are violations everywhere, but I would hope this sort of thing does not become the norm. If it does, then we know for sure somebody has too much free time.