Champaign schools Superintendent Arthur Culver receives a vote of confidence.
One can quarrel with the wisdom of granting another contract extension to Champaign schools Superintendent Arthur Culver, but there's no disputing it's an expression of support in Culver's leadership.
The school board has declared that Culver is its man for the foreseeable future.
By a 4-3 vote, the school board last week added another year to the three years remaining on Culver's contract. Two years ago, the board extended Culver's contract from four years to five.
It's hard to understand the point of routinely extending contracts not close to expiration. Frankly, it does not serve the best interests of taxpayers to be on the hook for big bucks if board members and the superintendent decide they can no longer live with each other. There also is the problem of extending the contract on the eve of a board election, a move that puts newly elected board members at a disadvantage.
But the board's overall relationship with Culver clearly is a good one, and there is no sign of serious discord.
Culver came from Texas to Champaign in 2002. Since then, he's had his hands full trying to meet the requirements of a consent decree negotiated before his arrival that is aimed at improving the performance of minority students. He's done a good job, so it's understandable a board majority would want to show its appreciation.
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