Kudos to the Baltimore City Board of School Commissioners for doing what was right in selecting a new CEO, regardless of the potential political fallout about the process ("Baltimore school board criticized for secret search for new CEO," May 4).
I am amused to hear the complaints and faux outrage from local officials, self-appointed community spokespeople, and yes, even The Sun's editors.
They bemoan the lack of transparency and community and government involvement. The irony is that in past superintendent searches, the public was involved in numerous hearings, meetings, forums, etc., and look what that brought us: A mixed record of success at best.
Given the revolving door of urban superintendents' tenure (lasting more than three years in one place is an anomaly), opening the search process to other national candidates would have not guaranteed better choices.
To the politicians and others whose feathers were ruffled I say: "Give your egos a rest and give incoming schools CEO Sonja Santelises a chance."
By all accounts she brings to the job the requisite experience, knowledge and, most important of all, the wisdom any CEO needs to make meaningful, lasting change in an urban school system.
Welcome back, Ms. Santelises, and Godspeed.
Sandra L. Wighton, Baltimore