The reforms gained momentum when Cleveland's mayor began appointing the board. Columbus schools simply have not kept pace in progress. The Dispatch does not mean to suggest that Superintendent Rosa Smith is not instituting sound academic reforms. Or that the Columbus Board of Education has not tried. But the particulars of Smith and individual board members are not the point.
Performance is what counts.
Performance has been insufficient and is more likely to remain insufficient under the current board structure. For example, board President David Dobos sees one of the board's primary duties as crafting policy that defines the district's mission and guides the superintendent. But board after board paid little attention to that aspect until last year's curriculum- management audit by the Phi Delta Kappa education organization described board policy in many areas as vague and inadequate. State law has been complicit in promoting low performance standards for boards of education. More than a dozen other states, including Kentucky, New Jersey, Texas and West Virginia, require that board members attend training workshops.