The race is on in the suburbs

Four municipal school districts want to hire John Aitken as a consultant to help them with their education plans (June 22 article). Bartlett isn’t interested in establishing a working relationship with the former superintendent of Shelby County Schools, who is obviously a No. 1 pick for any of the six suburban cities expected to approve their own school districts in the July 16 vote. The competition begins in earnest in January 2014 when the six cities’ new boards of education each try to hire the best and brightest superintendent, one who is available to start work immediately so the school districts can open less than eight months later for the 2014-15 school year.

This short hiring period for a superintendent adds to the competition between the new school boards. The targeted start date in August 2014 gives each new superintendent less time to hire the best and brightest principals, who will have even less time to hire the best and brightest teachers. This will be a splendid competition as the best and brightest principals and teachers take jobs in the new districts and move from one school system to another.

The competition between the anticipated new school districts is important because good schools enhance student learning, property values and a city’s quality of life. There will be winners and there will be losers.

Who will win? Arlington, with the newest schools? Bartlett, whose education committee has a great plan? Collierville, with its fast growth? Germantown, with its financial power? Maybe it will be Lakeland, which needs only one principal for its one elementary school, or Millington, which had to annex additional area to meet the state’s student population requirement.

One thing can be said with certainty. This will be the most important competition we have seen since Memphis City Schools relinquished its charter and the Norris-Todd law was passed in the legislature. Let’s hope Aitken, as a consultant, gives the right advice to every city that hires him and all six come out with winning schools.