Public input on new Fort Worth school board trustee is essential

Fort Worth school trustees are spending a lot of time talking about how to fill a vacant board seat. It's a good thing for them to deliberate carefully, given that they've opted to do this themselves instead of leaving it to voters.

It's not so good that some trustees would prefer to close part of this process to the public.

In fact, that would be completely unacceptable.

There should be nothing secret about the selection of a community representative on a public body that sets policy for one of the most important of public institutions and makes critical decisions about spending millions of tax dollars.

Trustees plan to solicit applicants for the seat and then choose one based on criteria they decide. They've set a public hearing for 6:30 p.m. Feb. 21 at Rosemont Elementary School to hear what residents of District 8 on the city's south side want in a board member.

Trustee Ann Sutherland in particular has been pushing to shroud the process from public scrutiny.

At a Tuesday board discussion, Sutherland, who represents part of southwest Fort Worth, talked about keeping applicants' names secret, and she objected to presenting the hopefuls at a public forum for fear someone could "jam up" the process, Star-Telegram writer Eva-Marie Ayala reported. (bit.ly/znbliW)

Thank goodness Texas law prevents hiding applicants' identities and information they provide.

And why not a forum for them to make their pitch? Isn't that what happens when candidates are running for election?

The post is open because of board President Ray Dickerson's resignation in December. The 180-day window for replacing him closes in June. On Feb. 14, board members are expected to approve a timeline for accepting applications, conducting interviews and voting on a new trustee.

The process is complicated a bit by the switch to a new voting map that eliminates the at-large presidency and carves out a brand new District 8.

According to the boundaries -- which are awaiting U.S. Justice Department approval -- District 8 encompasses Paschal High School and generally covers central-city neighborhoods between Hemphill Street and Granbury Road, extending slightly south of Interstate 20, with a small portion east of I-35W.

The school district plans to provide precinct-by-precinct information with its notice when filing opens.

The struggle over redistricting and debate about the process for picking a new superintendent indicated that District 8 has vocal residents who are actively involved in their schools and their neighborhoods.

Trustees should give every qualified applicant full and fair consideration.

Their paperwork becomes public record.

But school attorney Bertha Whatley said the Texas Open Meetings Act allows trustees to interview applicants and discuss their choice in private. In a telephone interview, she cited Texas Government Code Section 551.074, which covers "personnel matters" and allows closed meetings "to deliberate the appointment, employment, evaluation, reassignment, duties, discipline, or dismissal of a public officer or employee."

A layperson might question whether a provision that clearly deals with personnel decisions properly applies to trustees, who are considered elected officials, not public employees.

Even if the law does allow deliberations about a new board member in closed session, nothing requires that it be done in secret. The board should do all this business in public so residents can have confidence in the way the decision was made.

Members of this highly factionalized board might want to add someone who will do their bidding and help accomplish their agendas. But residents of District 8 are entitled to someone who will represent their interests.

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