Former PPS Superintendent Carole Smith, left, with COO Tony Magliano, third from left, at Rose City Park in June. The district's lead crisis led to a rush to fill vacancies in the administration.
Amelia Templeton / OPB
Portland school board members began their search to replace Superintendent Carole Smith on Wednesday.
Smith abruptly announced her immediate retirement this week, just as Portland Public Schools released a 38-page independent investigation into the district's discovery of lead in school drinking water.
With Smith headed into retirement in the wake of the lead investigation, the school board approved criteria for an interim replacement.
The school district prioritized a commitment to public education and improving student outcomes, as well as focusing on closing achievement gaps based on race. The board also expressed interest in a "community leader" who understands the culture of Portland and its school system. Experience "leading and managing a complex organization" is also listed as a "must" for the interim superintendent.
At times, board member Steve Buel questioned the criteria, saying certain attributes should be a "must," and joking that he wasn't sure if God would apply to be interim superintendent.
Board member Paul Anthony — who helped draft the criteria language — responded: "I'm not prejudging. If God applies, I will be very happy to consider that application."
Board members did have some serious debates as well.
Julie Esparza Brown wanted to focus on getting interim superintendent candidates with experience in education.
"Has to be an educational leader – and also a manager,” Brown said. Her comments had the support of vice chair Amy Kohnstamm.
But the board majority agreed with Pam Knowles, who wanted to leave the door open to other executives.
“We may not want to preclude people who may be interested, and have something that we’re not all thinking about,” Knowles said.
Board members sided with Knowles on that.
Mike Rosen voted against the criteria. He wanted more public input, and wanted to spell out more clearly the need for immediate structural changes to the school district in light of the recent lead controversy. The board wants an interim in place before school starts.
One result of Smith's sudden departure and the lead controversy is an expanding void in leadership at Oregon's largest district.
The chief financial officer at Portland Public Schools, Yousef Awwad, is filling in as top executive. Awwad was already covering for the chief operating officer, Tony Magliano, who’s been on paid leave since last month due to his role in the district's response to lead in water fountains and faucets.
Related: Lead In The Water
The rash of vacancies and people taking on multiple responsibilities is a problem facilities staff have been noticing for some time. A number of managers and directors have left the Facilities and Asset Management Department, with internal people filling in for them.
It's a trend that Pat Christianson has noticed as president of the District Council of Trade Unions, which represents PPS maintenance workers.
"That’s all up and down the ranks, from the superintendent down to our laborers in the shop, [we] have these multiple hats being worn," Christianson said. "And it does create an ineffective atmosphere.”
Board members are meeting Wednesday night with one item on their agenda: the superintendent search. They plan to have an interim superintendent before the school year starts and find a permanent replacement after that.
Officials familiar with superintendent searches say that the best candidates for interim positions are often former top administrators from within Oregon, often someone who has recently retired. When Beaverton's superintendent Jeff Rose left to run the Fulton County School System in Georgia, the board hired Paula Radich, the retired Newberg superintendent and a previous interim in the Salem-Keizer district.
Beaverton then hired Don Grotting, former head of the David Douglas schools, to be the permanent superintendent.
Editor's note: This story has been updated to correct the spelling of Yousef Awwad's name. OPB regrets this error.