Two board members move to hasten Wilcox exit

The Clayton Wilcox era is slowly winding to a close in Pinellas, but not fast enough for two School Board members.

Veteran board member Linda Lerner (left) urged the board Tuesday to immediately reduce the outgoing superintendent's role to "transition consultant" and install his top deputy, Julie Janssen, as interim superintendent. The effect would have been a sudden end to Wilcox's tenure as superintendent, which the board previously agreed would last until June 3.

But Lerner got support from only one other board member, Mary Brown. Both have been critical of Wilcox on a number of issues. The final vote was 5-2 against the idea.

Lerner argued that the district needed to move ahead as soon as possible with new leadership because of the budget crisis and other pressing issues. She acknowledged that Wilcox would have to agree with the idea, but he did not chime in. Board member Peggy O'Shea said Wilcox still needed to "bring closure" to several issues before he leaves for a job with Scholastic Corp.

Also Tuesday, the board formalized its earlier decision to make Janssen the interim superintendent effective June 4 at a salary of $185,000. The contract says she would receive the same percentage pay cut as other employees if the board votes to balance the budget by reducing salaries. In addition, the board formally voted to hire the Tallahassee-based Florida School Boards Association to conduct a national superintendent search for $6,000 plus expenses, for a total of no more than $25,000.

Board members waived a provision in Wilcox's contract that says he would have to pay up to $60,000 for a superintendent search if he leaves before his contract expires June 30. Had the board enforced the provision, Wilcox was prepared to finish out the contract. Board members favored waiving it, saying it would cost less than paying Wilcox $29,248 in salary until June 30.

Comments

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[Raye]

Janet Clark has spent quite a lot of time in schools. Bostock and Gallucci are the ones to go. They used SB meembership as political steping stones. They are interested in the parties, banquets, and POWER. They rubberstamped virtually everything Wilcox did.

[Cathy]

It's interesting to see people bashing the only two board members I have ever seen in a school. In fact, I have sent a few letters to the board and the only people who acknowledged either of them were Lerner and Brown - Mrs. Brown actually called me at home to discuss the issue. They have more knowledge of the inner workings of schools than they others because they take the time to care and show up. Linda Lerner and Mary Brown may not be perfect but they are miles ahead of the rest of the board.

[Julia]

The fact that Brown and Lerner are the ones supporting it makes me want to oppose it.

Both have been on the board too long and offer no new fresh ideas. They don't support neighborhood schools. They support social engineering in schools. Tinkering around w/ assignment plans, lesson plans etc... to fit their outdated ideas.

We need a board and superintendent who support neighborhood schools. Educators who want results, not just buy into the latest $$ educational "trend". Poll after poll from all parent groups show that this is what parents want by an overwhelming margin. Not more decades of failed experiments and expensive busing.

I do respect and thank Brown and Lerner for their time and efforts. It's just time to move on. I also recognize it is not an easy job.

Linda Lerner is a powerful force on the board. I agree with her-Wilcox should be out immediately. He has done his damage now cut him loose. Maybe he should take some of the overpaid administrators and staff he promoted over the last couple of years when budget issues were already a problem. The district is rapidly becoming a place that is "all chiefs and no indians" Who do they really think is going to do the work when they are left with just management. The cuts are always aimed at the low paid support staff not the overpaid and excessive managerial staff. Prehaps the new superintendent can right this wrong.

[me]

Linda Lerner does her homework and she isn't afraid to ask questions that might put someone on the hotseat. More power to her. She needs to stay on the board!

Shirley,

Surely you have a reason for seeing these two board members as part of the problem. What is it?

[Shirley]

Those two board members are part of the problem too. We need to clean house of them as well.

[Pat P]

Linda Lerner is such a pill, how does she keep getting re-elected?

[Gilbert]

Obviously, Ms. Lerner and Ms. Brown will not be getting Christmas cards from Mr. Wilcox this year.
Seriously, it is not in the best interest to keep Mr. Wilcox around any longer. Issues pressing the school board leadership should be first and foremost, BEFORE the school year ends in a month. I hope that Mr. Wilcox's exit will forge a more cordial atmosphere among the educational leadership.
We must remember, the kids will be the ones suffering.
As far as selecting someone within the already established leadership really makes no sense. We need fresh new leadership with fresh ideas. Some of the already sitting leadership is just as much if not MORE the reason for the discord as the departing Mr. Wilcox.