When Joe Hairston, 61, completes his third four-year term in 2012, he will be Baltimore County?s second-longest-serving public schools superintendent. Hairston earned a doctorate from Virginia Tech, a master?s from American University and a bachelor?s from what is now the University of Maryland Eastern Shore. He began his teaching career in 1969 in Prince George?s County and was appointed to lead Baltimore County ? one of the nation?s 25 largest school systems ? in 2000. His motto? Keep it simple.
Baltimore County has the fourth-best graduation rate among large public school districts in the country and the best in terms of African-American students. What are you doing that works so well?
It speaks directly to our “blueprint for progress” ? those world-class standards that people tend to gloss over, standards that we set for ourselves regardless of who the child is or their ZIP code. We are the third-largest school system in the state, and we have a wide range of diversity. We are not a monolithic community. Economically, we are diverse. But at the same time, every student is subjected to the same skill sets in terms of standards and expectations.
Overcrowding has been a hot-button issue, especially in Towson-area elementary schools. What?s being done?
I?ll have to work with the funding agency, and that is the county government. That?s one of the unfortunate conditions that exist in the state of Maryland ? our funding structure. In my previous district [Clayton County, Ga.], I had the same funding authority as the county executive. We could tax, we could hold referendums. The school system had fiscal autonomy. In Maryland, it?s a lot different. One of the issues that has plagued us over the years is our sheer volume; roughly 60 percent of our schools are over 45, 50 years old. It costs a great deal of money, and there?s only so much to go around.
County Executive Jim Smith took some heat for pushing an addition at Loch Raven High instead of a new school. Which is more appropriate?
The addition was never our preference. If you look at the site itself, it?s sitting right next to a road. If you don?t know anything about running a schoolhouse, an addition on that site would be a nightmare.
The teachers union worries about recruitment and retention, particularly after it did not receive a cost of living adjustment in the 2009 budget. Do you share the concerns?
I share their concerns, but we didn?t have to cut any positions. Everyone has a job with benefits, and that is so critically important. Seventeen thousand employees, and we didn?t cut anyone. All our programs were intact, so we don?t have to worry about going back and getting money to restore them.
But funding to continue the county?s online academy was not included. Why?
It?s an excellent program. Outstanding. But it was a pilot program, and one of the stipulations in the contract was that it would be subject to an open bid, and then thecourse is predicated on funding availability.
What are your thoughts on a popularly elected school board?
I?ve worked for elected school boards, and I?ve worked for appointed school boards. I have to admit, if this were an elected school board, because of the volatile political climate, it is highly unlikely that a superintendent would survive eight years. Stability has been the hallmark for the success over the years here. The fact you have an appointed board means people are not running for office. They are appointed by the governor, hopefully without any influence, so there is more objectivity. They are here for the children.
David Lever, executive director of the state?s Interagency Committee on School Construction, said Baltimore County?s request for funding was replete with error and blamed that on poor communication between school administrators and county administrators. Any comment?
I think that whole letter was taken out of context and was never intended to be a public document. I?m sure David wasn?t throwing any curves at us or the county executive. We have a pretty good relationship. We?re never on the same page simply because they control the purse strings, and obviously we do not … I think what David was focusing on was the process. We were trying to get as much as we could, and sometimes we don?t play by their rules. In no way was he throwing rocks at me, the administration or the county executive.
The county?s first charter school is set to open in the fall, but there was resistance. Do you worry about mismanagement?
In Maryland, fortunately for us, the charter schools are part of the public school system, which means they have to function within the guidelines, parameters and policies. They are under my supervision, they are held accountable to the Board of Education. There are some safeguards in place and we do have the latitude to determine at the end of the school year if a charter school has lived up to its promise, and there is no guarantee we must continue the charter school. It?s pretty much driven by performance. As long as they are successful and effectively educating our children, we will work with them.
Do you see the violence in Baltimore City schools ? where teachers have been attacked ? leaking into the county?
I don?t see it leaking. It?s just a reflection of society. More specifically, in generalized locations, there are more intense conditions than others. We are still very fortunate. We have great communities. The schools are a reflection of the community and the values of the community.
