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Finalists urge structural review of CCSD operations and clearer communication between central office, schools and board
Summary
Candidates said CCSD’s sprawling structure has grown ad hoc, recommending an organizational audit, clearer goals and a strengthened communications function to align central office supports with school needs.
All three superintendent finalists identified organizational structure, unclear goals and weak communication as barriers to district performance and proposed assessments to align central-office functions with school needs.
Ben Scholdiner said CCSD’s organization chart "doesn't really make much sense" and urged a review to focus district resources on clear goals: higher graduation rates, fewer one-star schools and lower teacher vacancies. Jesse Walsh recommended pilot testing and phased rollouts for large operational changes, citing past district technology rollouts as an example. Joan Ebert called for an updated efficiency and effectiveness study and said supervisors should match the school level they oversee (elementary supervisors with elementary experience, secondary supervisors with secondary experience).
Why it matters: CCSD is one of the nation’s largest districts; how central office is organized affects where money flows, how quickly schools get help and whether strategic budgets hit classrooms. Candidates tied organizational change to operational goals: graduation, hiring, and improved school performance.
Proposed actions and assurances
- Organizational audit: multiple candidates urged a district-wide efficiency and effectiveness study to find savings and to realign supports with school needs.
- Talent assessment: candidates proposed rapid talent reviews for cabinet and supervisor roles to check whether incumbents have the skills required for their assignments.
- Communications overhaul: Ebert urged empowering a communications team to work directly with principals and teachers to deliver consistent, transparent messages to families and media.
Quotes drawn from the forum
"If there isn't a structure... here's our goal: increase graduation, reduce teacher vacancies, reduce the number of 1-star schools," Ben Scholdiner said.
Ending: Candidates framed structural review as a precondition for other reforms. Any reorganization would need board approval, careful stakeholder engagement and protections for employees while aligning resources toward measurable student outcomes.
