On Monday June 11th. the Columbus Board of Education sans two selected Deputy Superintendent Gene Harris to lead this beleaguered school district as its next superintendent. Well now what does that suggest for the system? Harris former student of, teacher in and administrator for the system certainly has enough familiarity with the system to know where all of the skeletons are buried. After serving for nearly a year as the number two person, she will now have the opportunity to step up to the plate and take a swing at rescuing a system that seems to many to be beyond repair. The Columbus Public Schools system has a major image problem, not to mention the substantive challenges that plague it. A staggering drop-out rate, truancy rate, unreliable figures on college placement and a low graduation rate are but among a few of the minor issues that face Harris as she ascends to the leadership role.

More devastating may be a continually divided Board. A Board that has deep philosophical, ideological and practical differences; and further a Board that still doesn’t truly trust its members. Harris will face a union that is determined on flexing its muscle under the gossamer veneer of “protecting teachers rights” (oftentimes at the expense of student’s rights), and a teaching force that is getting progressively younger and smaller with each year’s exodus into retirement by senior teachers. She will face a downtown establishment that wants it done yesterday, and developers who understand that urban sprawl is now considered a menace as they are driven back to the city to develop land that won’t be profitable if the school system doesn’t improve radically. Further, the need for an operation levy and bond issue are on the table.

That’s not to mention the state’s mandate to get out of academic emergency or else. And the Northside’s insistence that the district’s equity initiative not affect their communities or children as they strive to embrace a suburban academic model. Or even the fact that the future looks dim for thousands of ninth graders who statistically will not graduate because they’ve already been held back one or more times and they soon have to prepare this bunch for the next round of proficiency tests.

This is just a sampling of the challenges that face Dr. Harris (You realize that I now call her doctor, ‘cause this situation is going to require surgery). And much of that surgery may come without the benefit of pain dulling drugs. Who would want this job? I certainly don’t envy anyone who has it and now my heartfelt wishes and go out to the new superintendent. But I wouldn’t be true to myself if I didn’t take a little time to offer a few suggestions to the new “super” about some ways I feel might make her job a bit easier.

While much has been said about leadership, I believe the truest test of leadership is courage. Courage to make the tough calls for the right reasons and the courage to stick to appropriate convictions in the face of sometimes overwhelming odds.

Courage would be, understanding that Grossman seldom sees the relationship with the union as a partnership, and acting accordingly.

As parental involvement is always a key buzz phrase for superintendents, COURAGE would be to institute an urban educational model known for innovative measures in increasing parental involvement, such model is the Comer model.

Courage would be helping the business community understand that they are partners but do not have the only say in what role CPS students will play in their companies. Reform the school to work arrangement so that more CPS students are hired at higher levels than low wage paying jobs and insist on corporate investment in the school system in the form of scholarships and management track positions for CPS graduates.

Courage might include reducing the size and scope of the central administration (Rosa added several layers to insulate herself) and setting guidelines, standards and expectations for central office administrators with accountability measurements. Further, reclassify every central office administrator’s job to a one-year contract.

Courage might be firing anyone who demonstrates an attitude, act or behavior that is not child-centered in the decision-making or policy implementation process (after of course they’ve been trained in what is expected in a child-centered system).

Courage might be providing a comprehensive cultural indoctrination program for all teachers and administrators in this district on how to deal with the complexities of urban education. (The grad schools certainly aren’t doing a good job at it).

Courage might be assigning administrators in jobs more suitable to their talents and filling upper level positions with high order thinkers.

Courage might be listening to the community, instead of using the community as a sounding Board.

Courage might include educating the Board on issues pertinent to the district’s success and providing them with accurate information in a timely manner.

Courage might be being able to honestly say, “I don’t know, but Ill find out.”

Courage might mean, that we align a curriculum above state minimum standards with arts and languages at the core of the curriculum. (After all studies indicate that this enhances cognitive development in children thus increasing deductive and inductive reasoning skills to a degree that success on standardized tests increases.)

Courage might mean that all schools must meet the standards of a 10-point checklist (more on that in a later article) of what constitutes an environment conducive to learning.

Courage might mean, that all teachers undergo classroom management training and progressive discipline training.

Courage might mean restricting all suspensions of students with the exception of violent, drug related or sex related crimes for one year.

Courage might mean eliminating zero tolerance policies for K-5 grades. (We ought to be teaching and encouraging proper behavior at these levels not purely punishing inappropriate behavior).

Courage might mean, changing assessment tools for students and accountability standards for adults.

Courage might mean, emphasizing certain instructional practices (triarchal and multiple intelligences) at early ages and to target children to be reading at grade level by grade one, while emphasizing support systems for grades nine and ten. Did you know that with all of the drop out and truancy that a CPS student who walks through the classroom doors on the first day of his/her 11th grade year has a better than 90% chance of graduating? We’ve got to catch them early or catch them late, but we’ve got to catch them.

Courage might mean partnering with community groups, agencies and churches as outreach intervention team members.

Courage might mean, assuring equity across the Board so that every child has access to a quality education.

And though I could go on for another page or two I will close by saying that courage might mean, doing what you know in your heart of hearts is right for the children. Doing it without reservation, consternation or trepidation and making certain that that message and expectation is echoed loud and clear without room for interpretation throughout the district. Dr. Harris, you’re now at the plate, step up and take your swings. And if necessary, remember, sometimes surgery requires leaving a little blood on the carpet.

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Al Warner is CEO of ADW Management, a radio talk show host on WSMZ 103.1FM and a candidate for Columbus School Board.