Solid structure: School brick-and-mortar authority should stay with board of education

There is always going to be a discussion about how to "fix" schools.

Some of it comes from the fact that most people, no matter what their political persuasion, want what's best for their children -- and all children.

Some of it comes from the misconceptions about the schools and what it is really like to be a teacher, an administrator or to try to manage a physical plant that is decades too old to be efficient.

And the rest comes from the ease with which criticism can be turned into political hay -- have you ever really heard a politician talk candidly about what is wrong, what can be fixed and what the real concerns are with education? They talk in soundbites that sound good, but accomplish nothing.

So, as expected, education is on the new governor's agenda -- just as it has been for every other governor ad infinitum.

And one of the topics that has surfaced in that discussion is the control of the building of school facilities.

The new idea: Put the county commissioners in charge and take that power away from the school districts.

We do not know how our local commissioners stand on this issue -- it seems to be a state secret. But it is a topic that deserves reflection before the leap.

There is some need for synergy between the county commissioners and the school board. They have the same goals. Both want quality education for students at a reasonable cost. And both want to be able to attract investment into the community by being able to say that Wayne County schools are top-notch.

But the bottom line is, these are two different expertises.

One group works in the day-to-day of school administration and finance. Its members understand the unique circumstances that go along with running a school district and the federal and state requirements and the mountains of paperwork and rules that get in the way.

The other is charged with providing the money, but the budget is the real concern -- and if you listen closely -- that is mostly what comes out of any local leader's mouth who is not directly involved in the administration of the schools.

Understandably different jobs. Understandably different perspectives.

The discussion about control of school facilities began in Wake County -- but the new idea has implications for the rest of us as well.

The bottom line would be school districts would run the education, but the counties would manage the facilities.

And while it might seem like a fine idea, here's why it isn't.

When you look at an organization, you have to evaluate it as a whole. You have to understand how the pieces interplay and how they affect spending. You have to grasp more than bottom lines and dollars and cents.

The learning curve is huge -- and to be frank -- shouldn't be tempered by soundbites and random commentary rather than a true analysis of the situation complete with solutions based not on perceptions, but on reality.

The commissioners should advise and work with the school board as a team. And, as evidenced by their recent joint meeting, that seems to be the direction both boards in Wayne County are heading.

But there can only be one boss. And in this case, it needs to be the one that has the context and the big picture, not the money men.

This is definitely a case of too many cooks spoiling the broth.

Let's hope the county commissioners remember that.

Published in Editorials on April 2, 2013 10:45 AM