THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, February 12, 1995 TAG: 9502150654
SECTION: CHESAPEAKE CLIPPER PAGE: 06 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Editorial
LENGTH: Short : 34 lines
The choice of Deputy Superintendent William R. Nichols as Chesapeake's new superintendent of schools was not a surprise. Most members of the School Board had made up their minds from the start that Mr. Nichols was their man.
By restricting their search to current school employees and carefully wording their criteria for the job, board members saw to it that Mr. Nichols' competition was less than grueling.
``He met all the criteria - more than met the criteria,'' declared Board Member Thomas Bray after the choice had been made. It could just as well have been said that the criteria met Mr. Nichols - more than met him.
The board went on a length about the importance of a slow, methodical approach in the school administration. Then it went about making its choice of superintendent like a house afire.
The board's placed great value in selecting a superintendent who has no interest in making too many changes too soon. Yet, as parents, teachers and taxpayers understand, even if the School Board doesn't, some changes are overdue. Despite the best efforts of the present school administration, our schools are growing more overcrowded every day and our students are not doing as well as they should be on standardized achievement tests.
The curious way in which Mr. Nichols was chosen doesn't necessarily mean that he is not the best person to meet the school system's present needs.
Unfortunately, it doesn't mean he is either. by CNB