Schools could benefit by looking internally

As education experts and advisors to the Worcester County Board of Education encourage board members to allow for some overlap when they select the replacement for departing Superintendent Lou Taylor in June, the best way to ensure that happens is to promote from within.

Taylor, who announced in January that he would retire on June 30, gave the board plenty of time to conduct a search for candidates and, possibly, to have that individual in place before Taylor closes the book on his 41-year career.

Having the future and current superintendent on board at the same time would allow Taylor to give his replacement the lay of the land before handing over the reins of the county’s public school system.

Obviously, people already serving in the system’s administration would have an advantage in that regard, especially when it comes to the school system’s dealings with the Worcester County Commissioners.

Knowing who the players are and how they feel about public education would be more than merely helpful come budget time, it could be vital to striking a fair and reasonable school budget. No one should have to walk into that exercise without knowing what to expect.

This isn’t to say that all candidates from outside this immediate area shouldn’t be given strong consideration if they appear to be up to the task. Former Worcester County School Superintendent and current school board member Jon Andes, who came to this county after working his way up the career ladder in more populous Harford County, did an exceptional job here.

Surely, there are others like him out there who might do an admirable job and they should not be ignored if local candidates are less qualified. But all things being equal, promoting from within also means installing a superintendent with the kind of institutional knowledge that will help keep the school system on the path that has been working well for many years.