Mobile praises schools candidate

MOBILE -- It's shortly before dinnertime at Heroes Sports Bar & Grille and the conversation at one of the tables is not on who won the governor's race the day before, but on the future of the county's school system.

The diners are discussing Superintendent Harold Dodge, one of two finalists for the top education job in the Montgomery public school system.

"They better not let him leave for Montgomery," Tricia Edwards tells her friend, Travis Pierce. "He has done such wonderful things for our children and for our schools."

Over the past several years, the Mobile district has seen a significant increase in test scores, an equally significant decrease in dropouts and the addition of programs that have been recognized nationwide.

Many people in this coastal community think the reason for that success is because of Dodge.

"There is no doubt in my mind," Edwards said. "Years ago, people were leaving the school system to go to Baldwin County because they had lost faith in Mobile's schools. Now, a lot of them are coming back. I know because I am one of them."

Dodge's time in Mobile, though, hasn't been without rough spots.

Over his eight years, Dodge has had a troubled relationship with some school board commissioners. He and many others have accused the board of micromanaging him. The board meddled so much that the district was put on accreditation probation in 2002.

In March 2006, the board voted to find a replacement for Dodge but halted its search after a public outcry.

Throughout the chaotic times with the commission, Dodge said he has remained focused on the children.

"I've always tried to be a professional, and I think that I have been a professional," he said. "I don't like tumultuous board meetings -- it's hard to tell a good story when there is bad press."

Dodge's current contract expires in March 2007, but board member Bill Meredith wants to extend it to June 2008.

"I don't want to see him go," Meredith said. "We have a lot of things going on, and I just don't think now is the time to be without a superintendent."

Dodge has said he must act in the best interest of his family and would not necessarily take a contract extension if one was offered.

"I am very serious about coming to Montgomery," he said. "The issues in Montgomery are very similar to the issues I have successfully dealt with in Mobile. I think I can make some good things happen."

In his annual evaluation last month, board commissioners gave Dodge a score of 68.5 points out of a possible 150. He received high marks in cooperation and disposition, job knowledge, quality of work, adaptability and job effectiveness, but low marks in curriculum development, management and quantity of knowledge.

Commission President Lonnie Parsons said he thinks Dodge has done an outstanding job.

"We've made enormous progress under his leadership," Parsons said. "Test scores are up. The number of student dropouts is down. We've seen an unprecedented building project unfold. I think we are just now beginning to see the fruits of all our labors."

Not all board commissioners agree, however.

Vice President Judy Stout is the one who made the motion to find a replacement for Dodge. She did not return several telephone calls seeking comment.

Commissioner Hazel Fournier was on the commission that voted to hire Dodge but now supports bringing someone else to lead the system.

"I think he has given all (he) can give to Mobile County," she said. "I think it is time for some new blood and some new initiatives."

Commissioner Fleet Belle said he thinks Dodge communicates well with the community. Belle, however, thinks the superintendent falls down when it comes to board relations and often takes credit for ideas that aren't his.

"Right now, he is putting out a PR campaign in the community to make it appear that he is the leader and that he is the reason why all the good things are happening," Belle said. "I think it is because we have a lot of good people working underneath him that are doing an outstanding job. This system will run just fine whether he is superintendent or not."

A deputy superintendent of academic affairs, Samantha Ingram is the Mobile school district's No. 2 person and works closely with Dodge.

"His leadership style is very hands-off," Ingram said. "He gives you a job to do, and he gives you the time to do it."

Like Belle, Ingram said some administrators think the superintendent takes credit for all of the district's successes but quickly added she doesn't feel that way.

When asked if Dodge is a good superintendent, Ingram said he "has excellent public relations skills" and "in some aspects, that is what makes a good superintendent."

Several other members of Dodge's central office staff say they think he is an outstanding leader.

Andrea Barbour, the assistant superintendent of student support services, said Dodge has a wide range of expertise and is liked by many people.

"He's done virtually everything in the education field, and he can relate to every employee," Barbour said. "He also has very high expectations of everyone, from the board table to the student desk."

Danny Goodwin, a director of the local branch of the Alabama Education Association teachers union, speaks favorably of Dodge as well.

"Dr. Dodge has always had an open door policy ... he has always worked with us," Goodwin said. "We've had disagreements, but he has always been open and inclusive."

Tommy Sheffield, the assistant superintendent for facilities, said Dodge is visible in each and every school, and isn't afraid to roll up his sleeves.

"After (Hurricane) Katrina, he was out there helping unload trucks," Sheffield said. "He helped make site visits and within hours after the storm, we knew the exact assessment of each school."

Last November, the commissioners were so impressed with Dodge's efforts after Katrina that they gave him an $8,000 raise.

Later that month, the School Superintendents of Alabama chose Dodge as Alabama's 2006 Superintendent of the Year.

Edwards, one of the diners at the sports bar, is vocal about her support of Dodge. Her two children are in the school system so she has a lot at stake if he lands the Montgomery job.

"If we lose Dr. Dodge," she said, "it will be a huge loss for the children of Mobile and a tremendous gain for the children of Montgomery."