Cover-girl Vicki Phillips, workin’ the town…
I’m a fan. But depending on which publication (or weblog) you read, people either love her, hate her, or question her motivations.
The Tribune and The O had dueling and dissonant versions this morning – she’s got a cadre of defenders in the Trib’s article, subtitled ” New schools superintendent praised for her bold decisions.” But in The O? She’s apparently ‘at odds’ with our Portland-style moves, with folks annoyed about being cut out of the decisionmaking process.
And the comments are already swirling online as well – see Jack Bogdanski’s You go, girl” take on The O’s story for just one example. (I’ve also had some interesting comments on an earlier Metroblog post here as well, and BlueOregon’s had several conversations in recent months about PPS moves and pending decisions – see this post co-authored by City Club Wendy Radmacher-Willis foreshadowing the potential effects of closing smaller neighborhood schools as just one example.
I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again – I’m thrilled and relieved that she’s making the tough decisions, and appears to be ready to take the heat for them. And of course, I’m pleased to see several other people – from S. Renee Mitchell and an op-ed by Lewis & Clark law professor Stephen Kantor (both in the hand-wringing O, no less) to Commissioner Randy Leonard (in the comments to my post below and to Isaac Lacqudem’s post on his site) – standing up to applaud her decisiveness.
I’ll add a ‘bring it on! cheer to Jack’s own ‘you go, girl!’ What say you…?
You have got to amputate the gangrene before you do a heathy organ transplant. Vicki is willing to see that this education body gets healthy and sticks her neck out to make the tough decisions.
A k-8 neighborhood magnate school and a Jefferson 7-12 school will only bring a stronger sense of community to that area.
Sharing the resources between the two schools within-the-school that Jeff will become can be terrific. Should they mix soially? Absolutely not!
Middle schools only tear apart kids who need stability and sense of belonging to a community in those sensitive, formative and vulnerable years.
Most of the private smaller schools seem to be successful with all-inclusive grade levels on one campus…
If the k-8 format works, let’s do more of them!
NOw all we need in all of the schools is a policy of no logos on clothes, or some type of uniform to squelch volatile social status issues.
Well, I’m late to the party, so my comment will probably never be read, but whatever. I don’t understand the obsession that people have lately with “tough leaders who are willing to make tough decisions.” It’s like they are so desperate for someone who will DO something that they don’t even care what actually gets done. I recall seeing a “man on the street” interview with a voter on Nov. 2, and the guy said something to the effect of “well, I don’t agree with anything that Bush does, but I respect him for being willing to make the tough decisions.” Sheesh. Are our leaders that pathetic that we’ll let someone make bad decisions as long as they do so fearlessly? Pretty lame.