Education department anxious for next boss Long transition a drag on staff and reforms Monday, June 12, 2006 • BY JOHN MOONEY • Star-Ledger Staff On the eve of taking office in January, Gov. Jon Corzine said he would launch a nationwide search for state education commissioner, arguably the highest profile job in his cabinet. Six months later, the process remains shrouded in secrecy. While a search committee put forward a list of four finalists two months ago, a final decision now seems likely to go deep into summer, after the budget is passed, officials said. In the meantime, acting Education Commissioner Lucille Davy continues to lead the department and, despite uncertainty about her tenure, is moving forward on issues such as school testing and funding. The three other finalists are all from academia, including a former federal education official now dean at Temple University, according to several officials and others familiar with the search. On Friday, Corzine spokesman Anthony Coley confirmed "the search process is ongoing, and we should have a decision post-budget." The uncertainty over the next boss has taken a toll, according to people inside and outside the Department of Education. Several interviewed, who requested anonymity for fear or reprisal, said the extended transition has made it difficult to advance issues like school finance and urban school reform. One high-ranking department official said the uncertainty has some staff wondering if their work on projects "will be all for nothing." Another said it "affects our ability to get things done, not knowing if it all could be turned upside down." Others questioned if the salary is an impediment to filling the position. The job pays $141,000, well below what many local superintendents make. Most agreed the governor needs to move soon. "We've been working in earnest with the commissioner on a number of serious issues," said Edwina Lee, director of the New Jersey School Boards Association. "And we're feeling a little tenuous. ... We need to know who is going to lead." In addition to Davy, Statehouse and administration officials said the finalists include: C. Kent McGuire, a Temple University dean and former U.S. assistant Secretary of Education. Gary Natriello, professor of education at Columbia University's Teachers College. Joseph Youngblood II, president of John S. Watson Institute for Public Policy at Thomas Edison State College and a former Trenton school official. Davy repeatedly has refused to comment on the search process and has only said she continues to work as hard as she can. She took over from former Commissioner William Librera when he left for a job at Rutgers University last September. Previously, she was education counsel to former Govs. James E. McGreevey and Richard Codey. Her husband is former Human Services Commissioner James Davy. Davy has been praised for her energy and ability to move forward several projects, including plans to revamp student testing, school monitoring and school funding. She has been seen as an especially tireless and loyal cheerleader for the governor during the state's tough budget straits. "She certainly has not been passive in her leadership role, and that has been a positive for the state," said Arnold Hyndman, president of the state Board of Education and a member of the search committee. Another committee member said she was not troubled by the deliberative process. "The governor is being thoughtful and diligent on this," said Joyce Powell, president of the New Jersey Education Association, the state's dominant teachers union. "This is a critically important decision." Among finalists, McGuire most often has been mentioned as the leading candidate, even when Librera first announced his departure. McGuire, 51, served in former President Bill Clinton's administration as an assistant secretary for educational research and improvement, and in 2003 was named dean at Temple University's College of Education. He is a member of the Moorestown school board. Reached Friday, McGuire said he remains interested but did not want to comment on specific details of his talks with the governor. "I have had several good conversations about the job, and I did express interest in it," he said. "There are some really tough issues facing New Jersey, but that's also what's intriguing about it." Natriello is a professor of sociology and education at Columbia Teachers College, and is well known for his research on school standards, high-stakes testing and high school dropouts. A Princeton resident, he also testified in 1997 in the Abbott v. Burke school equity case before the state Supreme Court, a case that continues to dominate the discourse over urban schools here. Natriello said he didn't realize he was still in the mix, saying he was last interviewed in April by both the governor and his staff. He said despite the state's budget woes, the commissioner post would be an attractive job for those who work closely with schools and education issues. "There's the reality of available resources everywhere, and the key job of the commissioner is how to get the most of them," he said. "That's always interesting, and anyone involved in thinking about the operation of schools would find that an attractive challenge." A Florida native, Youngblood has close ties to public education in the region. He now directs Thomas Edison College's Watson Institute, serving community and non-profit organizations. Before that, he was special assistant to Trenton's school superintendent, in charge of school-based programs. He could not be reached for comment Friday. John Mooney covers education. He may be reached at (973) 392-1548 or jmooney@starledger.com. © 2006 The Star-Ledger. Used by NJ.com with permission.