I can’t say I was surprised but I was irked to learn that Dallas County Commissioner John Wiley Price is trying to undermine DISD superintendent Mike Miles’ reform plans, particularly efforts to remove principals who haven’t measured up to Miles’ new standards.
I have questions about Miles and the plan, but I find it incredible that Price would play the “pastor card” so blatantly. In southern Dallas, churches and pastors wield a lot of political power. Churches are gathering places and pastors are authority figures. All of which means that what pastors say and do can matter politically.
It is not a complete surprise that Miles’ plan has increased strife among principals and other employees who might be out of a job, and even from parents who might like their school’s teachers and principals and might attend church with them. And that’s why I don’t like what Price is doing. He’s injecting himself into a personnel issue, accusing Miles and — by extension — Blackburn and other trustees of somehow betraying the district..
How else should one interpret Price’s references to Pontius Pilate and a fake Jesus, in his letter to pastors? As I say in this editorial now online, this is tortured theology. But it also is code for uniting the churches against Miles and everything that has to do with school reform. And that puts trustees who have principals whose jobs are in danger in a very uncomfortable position — backing Miles is in essence opposing educators for whom JWP suddenly has emerged as the loud and powerful guy who has their backs. In other words, he’s galvanized people who other might be lukewarm about Price behind him, which is always effective if you are fighting a cause.
Update: John Wiley Price returned my phone all shortly before 3 p.m. I asked the logical question — why are you going after Miles with a “beware’ warning letter to the pastors?
His answer: ”I was invited to the party. My contention is I have constituents who I don’t believe have been given a fair chance.” He then went on to describe many of the actions against principals as “overall unfair,” adding that some principals in danger of losing their jobs have improved discipline or made other strides in the face of limited resources, something that Price contends Miles doesn’t understand or doesn’t want to understand. “I don’t think he has a clue,” said Price, adding that he sees “good people who know the district” getting hurt. Then he suggested the need for some sort of community coalition for accountability in schools.
Price has a right to speak his mind, but residents also have a right to hear from Miles without Price urging the pastors to undermine the superintendent’s outreach to the community. Price says Miles is not the right man for the job. He may be right, but i think what Price really is saying is that he’s picking sides — voting constituents whose jobs are in jeopardy over the bigger reform goals. He’s clearly stirred the pot, effectively opening another battle front against the superintendent.
Reforming the schools to improve student performance means raising the bar on teachers, principals and administrators and board trustees. But that also requires support from the community. Miles at least deserves a chance to make his case without Price poisoning the well.