Poll: politics frustrate superintendents. (Notebook: up-to-date and usable education information from schools, government, business, research and professional organizations).

Politics is a dirty word for many superintendents, according to a recent survey of superintendents and principals.

And they say it is among the chief irritants compelling them to run from their jobs, leaving a district of school children, teachers, staff members and parents scratching their heads.

Eighty-one percent of superintendents say when talented superintendents leave the field it is likely they are "frustrated by politics and bureaucracy in their district," according to the recent report from Public Agenda, Trying to Stay Ahead of the Game: Superintendents and Principals Talk about School Leadership.

"It's right on target.... If they stay in one district for a long time, then they are happy.... But that's not the majority. When they do move around, it's always politics and bureaucracy," says Don Hooper, president of the American Association of School Administrators and superintendent of Fort Bend (Texas) Independent School District.

Legal issues, politics on school boards, parents with complaints, and collective bargaining are among the chief irritants for superintendents, the survey shows. Only 10 percent leave the field because of frustration from unreasonable demands due to higher standards and accountability. Only 5 percent leave due to low pay and prestige, the survey shows.

The study, which surveyed 853 public school superintendents and 909 public school principals, was financed by Wallace-Reader's Digest Funds, which is working to increase quality education leadership. The survey's results are well-timed, considering the increased focus on high standards and a drive for accountability, according to Jean Johnson, director of programs for Public Agenda.

While superintendents accept all aspects of their job, including paperwork, addressing special interest groups, safety issues, legal aspects to hiring and firing, parental complaints, and school board politics, the pressures involved in these tasks make for unhappy superintendents, Johnson says. "The accumulation of these things saps their energy," she says.

When superintendents recall how they spent their time during the last school year, 50 percent say legal issues and litigation required too much attention, 48 percent say parents with complaints and special interests took up time, and 43 percent point to union and collective bargaining issues.

One unnamed administrator wrote: "Litigation concerns give extreme parents and special interest groups far too much contact and make management, safety and instructional issues far more complex than necessary."

America values the right of any individual to run for public office, notes Hooper, but this leaves the door open for some people to be elected to school boards who do not "fully understand the magnitude" of the job and who end up creating problems. "One of the next studies ... could and should be the actual examples of these political things," he says. "School board members have their own opinions on matters and ... you have multiple viewpoints."

Johnson says she was bothered to see that bureaucracy played such a huge role. "I think there is a kind of message being sent here. We hope the study will be talked about," she adds.

But she says there is hope.

"The interesting thing from the study is that ... superintendents and principals feel they have the power and they have the confidence that they really could make education better," Johnson says.

And superintendents stated in interviews that to maintain direction and purpose they had to "stay focused" and try not to do "everything."

Talented superintendents
who leave the field are
most likely to resign because
they are frustrated by:

81%   Politics & bureaucracy
10%   Unreasonable demands
      brought about by higher standards
      and accountability
5%    Low pay and prestige
4%    Not sure

Note: Tables made from pie chart.

www.publicagenda.org