OUR VIEW: The Birmingham Board of Education, even as it argues that it is not dysfunctional, shows it is dysfunctional

on November 01, 2011 at 5:45 AM, updated November 01, 2011 at 7:00 AM


If Birmingham Board of Education members have to spend more than an hour at a regular board meeting arguing over whether their board is dysfunctional, their board is dysfunctional.

Otherwise, why even bother with the question?

But in its typically dysfunctional style, some members of the board argued they aren't dysfunctional. One of the complaints from board member Emanuel Ford was that Superintendent Craig Witherspoon adds items to the meeting agenda at the last minute, before board members have had a chance to look at them.

A few weeks ago, the school board couldn't even hold a scheduled meeting because board members did not approve the meeting's agenda. Without approval of the agenda, the school board had to adjourn the meeting, only to return three days later in a special meeting to pass necessary items, such as paying for the school system's liability insurance.


Ford must have overlooked that he was doing exactly what he accuses Witherspoon of doing. Ford placed the item he was discussing, board-superintendent relations, on the agenda at the last minute.

That didn't get by board President Phyllis Wyne.

"We hold this superintendent's feet to the fire about adding agenda items, and then we come in here and do the same thing," Wyne noted.


Ford and other school board members do have a point about Witherspoon's lack of communication. While Witherspoon is a fine superintendent and has created a sense of urgency and a level of enthusiasm about the school system we haven't seen in a while, he needs to do better communicating not only with the school board members, but with the community as well.

Also, Witherspoon and the school board still haven't developed a great sense of transparency within the school system, which is badly needed to build confidence in the public and among parents and businesses.

That said, it must be noted that Ford didn't vote in favor of hiring Witherspoon in the first place, so it's no surprise Ford has been one of Witherspoon's nemeses on the school board. Ford even said he wouldn't attend a conflict-resolution workshop put on by the state Department of Education and the Alabama Association of School Boards.

So who's really trying?

"This board has been slammed for being dysfunctional," Ford said. "The only thing I've said from day one is 'Dr. Witherspoon, talk to me. Tell me why you're asking me to vote this way, and maybe I'll vote yes.'"

There have been times, though, when Witherspoon has explained why he needed a certain vote, and Ford and others have still voted against him.

Early in his tenure, Witherspoon reorganized the school system's central office and recommended the school system hire an in-house lawyer to save money. His explanation for making the recommendation was clear, but Ford still voted against him. It has gone much the same way since.

Witherspoon should respond to board members' requests for information in a timely manner, but they shouldn't be filing those requests just to make him jump through hoops, either.

The superintendent has long work days and plenty to do. He's focused on doing what's right for schoolchildren and trying to encourage the right programs to improve the city school system.

Questions are fine, and they should be answered. But Witherspoon also needs support, from Ford and other board members. But what does Witherspoon get too often?