Living arrangements
Michael Brandt, superintendent of the Newport (Ky.) Independent School District since 2004, lives only 12 minutes away from his office. But because that home is on the other side of the Ohio River, in Cincinnati, Ohio, Brandt is in violation of a law that requires school superintendents in Kentucky to establish residence in the state. An appeals court in Kentucky has upheld the law, and Brandt is appealing to the Kentucky Supreme Court.
Do you think it’s fair for states or school districts to impose residency requirements on any of their workers?
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September 1st, 2009 @ 2:47 pm
As a superintendent I did not live in either district where I worked. I lived, like the superintendent in question in the article, less than 15 minutes from my office. In each district my wife and I were unable to find housing that we liked and were reluctant to build since superintendents are viewed as an expendable commodity based on the whims of the board. As a principal, when my children were school age, I did not want to live in the same district, as it puts tremendous pressure on them to achieve or suffer repercussions as a result of a decision. Not living there does not, however, excuse you from a high level of involvement and visibility in the community. Ohio has recently thrown out in court the residency requirement for police and fire in one of its areas.