Education Can’t Be Business as Usual

* The editorial “Dean Departure Poses Challenge” (Feb. 18) does, indeed, pose a “challenge” to Orange County voters. The question is, though, why is it that The Times is always ready to give a “pass” to the Orange County Department of Education when many who have studied it for years continue to give it a “fail.” The only “challenge” as I see it is to make sure to the public that it’s not business as usual after Supt. John Dean’s so-called “departure.”

The Times should also be reminding its readers that county departments of education were originally designed to assist rural school districts with services and were mandated to reduce their size as the districts grew and became more self-sustaining. Many districts now offer services once provided by the department.

Additionally, in present and past editorials, The Times has alluded to Dean’s leadership qualities and his ability to relate to local districts. Why not ask most teachers in the county what Dean and the department have done for them lately and see how they respond?

On two previous occasions, Orange County voters have said that they want this position to be an elected rather than an appointed office. Yet it appears that Dean now has been successful in naming his own successor, a long-time insider who will be paid Dean’s enormous salary of $197,950. So much for the democratic process. The board would have done well in considering the merits of holding a special election in keeping with the intent of the voting public.

It easily could have appointed a well-qualified educator who would have given assurances that he or she would not be a candidate for this office. This, then, would have assured that the public and not a group of board politicians would have the final word in selecting the new superintendent. Once again, the citizens of Orange County get the short end of the stick from a board which obviously has lost sight of its responsibility.

KENT S. MOORE

Corona del Mar