I finally got a chance to listen to Superintendent Terry Grier’s interview yesterday with Tom Fudge on KPBS. There’s a lot to chew on for education nerds — including calls from parents of students with disabilities, a parent worried about class sizes, and the merits of Proposition S, the $2.1 billion school facilities bond on the November ballot.
Grier also discusses the governance policies passed by the school board and a controversial provision that dissuades board members from publicly criticizing the superintendent and staff. He argues that the criticism is overblown. Board members are still free to criticize him, he said, and the policy was meant to help prevent the rapid staff and superintendent turnover that has plagued San Diego Unified.
But he’s also willing to cancel the provision if the board wants to, he said.
“If they want to change this policy, I’m easy with that,” Grier told Fudge.