Trapped in a Culture of Election Cycles

Over the weekend, I had the good fortune of being at one of the most interesting and relevant presentations I’ve ever experienced.  It was about the incredible story of the of The Breakers hotel in Palm Beach, Florida.  At the top of the list of why it has become one of top luxury hotels in the world is the long-term view of its owners.  As the hotel’s executive vice president and chief administrator officer explained, it took a long time for The Breakers to become what it is today.  My immediate reaction to his insight was that, as a result of the way our public schools are currently being controlled and influenced, they don’t have the luxury of time.  They are trapped in a culture of short-term election cycles ranging from local school board and tax issue elections to the election of state and federal policymakers.  There is, however, a way to counteract the disruptive impact of our political system and buy more time to build and sustain excellence in our public schools.  It is returning them to the stability of our local communities and placing them in the good hands of their owners — the public.