Guest Commentary: How To Make A School Board for All Students

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"The job awaiting the next School Board is monumental," Sulaiman W.

Rahman writes in a op-ed for the Philadelphia Inquirer.

"It encompasses District-operated neighborhood and special admit schools, brick-and-mortar charter schools, cyber charter schools, and alternative schools....

The vast scale of the School District is matched only by the breadth of its challenges."

Rahman, the founder and CEO of DiverseForce, a firm that helps organizations build strong, diverse teams and boards, says he's seen firsthand the "transformative power of good leadership" and believes the next School Board can make "significant progress toward ensuring that every Philadelphia public school student has access to a high-quality school of their choice."

In his op-ed, Rahman calls for "equity across all public schools" and for "a combination of educators, parents, and community leaders on our board to represent the diverse voices of our communities and interests within our City of Philadelphia."

Those leaders should include "open-minded and committed to doing what's best for all students," as well as people who understand the "strategic and financial oversight role a board plays for an organization the size and complexity of the school district."

Those selected for the nine-person board, which will be sworn in on Read the Entire Article

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