By Leah Volpe
Baltimore Watchdog Staff Writer
The Baltimore County Board of Education voted 8-4 Tuesday to request that Verletta White be reconsidered by the state for the permanent position of superintendent for the county’s schools.
The vote comes just two weeks after Maryland State Superintendent Karen Salmon rejected the appointment of White because of White’s past ethical violations. Salmon also wanted an audit of the school system’s contracts before White would be able to take the position as the permanent school’s chief.
Board members Ann Miller, Julie Henn, Roger Hayden and Kathleen Causey voted against the motion that White be reconsidered.
They said the board should start a new nationwide search for a new superintendent to replace S. Dallas Dance, who was convicted and sentenced to six months in prison, and White, who took over for Dance when he resigned about 10 months ago.
“What is the number of days the position of permanent superintendent was posted on the BCPS job website? Zero,” Causey said, referring to the Baltimore County Public School systems website. “How many resumes were reviewed by the Board of Education for the permanent superintendent position? Zero. How many interviews were conducted by the Board of Education for the permanent superintendent position? Zero.”
Causey stated that the board would be doing a disservice to the public, future board members and students by not performing a proper search for a superintendent.
Salmon said she had many concerns about appointing White as the new BCPS superintendent after White was investigated by the district’s ethics panel when she served as chief academic officer. The investigation was prompted after it was discovered that White was receiving money from a consultant and failed to disclose this information to school officials.
The debate regarding White, who began her position as interim superintendent last July, unfolded right in front of her after members of the public spoke out in support.
“You made this board much better, more effective,” said Dr. Bash Pharoan, a local supporter of White. “The discussion is out there in the sunshine instead of being behind the walls and you made everyone on the board a lot better in coming to a resolution. I can look at Ms. White’s eyes in the discussions going around her and I can tell you it is in my judgment she has learned from the discussion and the experience.”
Miller and Henn said the board should appoint an interim superintendent who is not seeking the permanent job so as not to scare away other possible candidates.
“There are too many questions that come down in my mind for us to move forward without taking the time to thoroughly investigate questions that we have and be able to go back and get answer,” Hayden said. “I think we are making a horrendous mistake.”
White’s supporters on the board said they will submit documentation from the county ethics investigation to the state Board of Education in hopes that it will change Salmon’s mind. Others said the controversy surrounding White will not distract the school system from serving students.
“I promise you that we will remain civil and that we will keep our focus on the real mission here: public education for almost 115,000 students,” said school board chairman Edward Gilliss.
The board has until June 30 to make a decision on a new superintendent’s contract.