School Superintendent moving on schools
 
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Tri-State News Network
 
COLORADO CITY, Ariz. – Mohave County School Superintendent Mike File is embracing a new law allowing state officials to move against financially troubled and mismanaged school districts. He said the law signed Monday by the Governor has statewide application, but was crafted to target the Unified School District in the north Mohave County community of Colorado City.

Napolitano said the law gives the Department of Education and the Attorney General the authority to act on problems in the Colorado City District.

"From the conversations I've had with the AG's office is that as soon as that law goes into effect (early August) they're going to be called to the state and in front of the state school board and placed in receivership," File said. "I have been asked to be that receiver."

File said that, prior to passage of the law, state and local officials were powerless to address the abuses he said he has monitored in the Colorado School District for years. He said the district has an absurd number of personnel considering its student population, and that administrators mismanage and misallocate resources.

"My first plan is that those folks will have to be terminated," File said. "I've been watching those guys in action for five years and they've proven their incompetence."

File said he's working on an action plan in anticipation of appointment as receiver. Personnel changes, he said, must be accompanied by drastic revisions of policy and practice.

File said he'll establish a hands-on presence when the work begins, though he concedes there's some concern about resistance from school officials. "I've been told and we've talked about the possibility of a hostile environment," File said.

File said over time he would wish to appoint a trusted administrator to oversee operation of the school district.
 
Tri-State News Network
Originally published May 13, 2005
 
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