Community leaders to show support for superintendent

Charleston leaders plan to show their support for schools Superintendent Nancy McGinley at the county school board meeting Monday night -- the same night she receives her annual performance evaluation.

Charleston Mayor Joe Riley, North Charleston Mayor Keith Summey, Chamber of Commerce Vice President of Public Policy Mary Graham and Charleston NAACP President Dot Scott are among those who plan to speak during the public comment portion of the board's meeting about their confidence in McGinley.

The mobilization of the area's top officials follows a change in leadership on the school board that some believe indicates a change in support for McGinley. Ruth Jordan, the board's newly elected chairwoman, has said she's behind McGinley but has refused to say whether she'd vote in favor of a contract extension. Jordan also received the endorsement of those who are more critical of McGinley, specifically board members Elizabeth Kandrac, Arthur Ravenel Jr. and Ray Toler. If member Chris Collins, who also voted for Jordan as chairwoman, joined that group, the board would have enough votes to do whatever it wanted in terms of the superintendent's contract, which expires in 2012.

"I feel certain that the new change in leadership is a clear signal of an agenda to oust the present superintendent," Scott said.

Scott said she thinks there is an effort under way to fire McGinley. She cited the April 2008 incident in which Ravenel threatened to fire the superintendent if she didn't put the Charleston Charter School for Math & Science on the board's agenda, and Scott said that wasn't an idle threat.

"He's serious about that," she said. "That hasn't changed. He knows his power and exerts it."

Ravenel said he's not trying to get rid of the superintendent, but his heart wouldn't break if she left the district, either.

"I'm not a big supporter of the superintendent because ... she's been an implacable enemy of charter schools, and I'm very pro-charter school," he said. "She doesn't support charter schools and did everything she could to kill (the Charleston Charter School for) Math & Science and almost did."

Ravenel also cited as evidence the district's violation of Act 189, local legislation that requires the district to provide charter schools with anything it would to a traditional public school, and the board's denial of Drayton Hall Elementary charter school application.

Jordan said there is no effort to get rid of the superintendent, and she believes McGinley is an excellent leader. She's confident McGinley will receive a great evaluation and that the board will continue to move forward in full support of her, she said.

Riley said he doesn't think the board has a desire to rid the district of McGinley, and he's going to the board meeting because he thought it important to show his support for her as the board considers her contract.

He called McGinley the best superintendent he's worked with during his time in public office, and he said the district, coupled with a strong school board, is poised to make leaps forward in the quality of local education. He described McGinley as bright, "on her game," a tireless worker, and courageous in making difficult personnel decisions.

The best possible scenario would be for McGinley to stay here until she retires, which he said he hopes won't be soon, because she is a much-sought-after leader.

"I just think she's extraordinary," he said, "and we're very lucky to have her."

Summey said he's heard rumblings of discontent among board members but he's unsure whether they plan to try to fire McGinley. He plans to tell the board that McGinley has been the most open superintendent he's encountered during his time as mayor, and she's willing to take the community's suggestions and work as a team to improve the district.

"I think she's doing an excellent job," he said. "Is she perfect? No. But who is?"

Graham said she's concerned about some board members' lack of support for the superintendent, and she wants to make sure the board knows the business community feels strongly that the district's leadership is doing a good job and needs to remain intact.

"We're making enormous progress," she said. "There are signs all over the place about the progress we're making and want to make, and we don't think that now is the time to change the strategy."

Reach Diette Courrégé at 937-5546 or dcourrege@postandcourier.com.