‘Leaders always choose the harder right rather than the easier wrong.? – Orrin Woodward
In my eight years as a journalist, I’ve dealt with all types of government officials ? village, township, school district.
In that time, I’ve also dealt with ‘the good, the bad and the ugly? when it comes to the leaders at the top.
I can honestly say that Oxford Schools Superintendent Tim Throne is one of the good guys and I’m thankful the school board, after doing their due diligence through the superintendent interview process, picked Tim to be in charge.
I know there was a lot of chatter in the beginning when it was announced that Tim was the top prospect to take over for former Superintendent Bill Skilling ? that Tim was groomed for the position, so he must be ‘Skilling’s boy.? Well, I believe that Tim has proven through both his walk and his talk that he is not Skilling’s or anybody elses ‘boy.?
In fact, I’d say he’s shown just the opposite and that was once again revealed to me in last week’s front page story ‘OHS students disciplined for alleged drug, alcohol use.?
When we recieved a call late Monday afternoon stating there was a rumor that four varsity football players were busted at the homecoming dance with suspected marijuana, I was charged with getting the details. What I thought was going to be an easy-peasy ‘here’s what happened? story, turned out to be a whole lot of red tape. I was getting ‘no comment? responses and the ‘we have to protect the children? speech.
I scratched my head confused, thinking we had somehow fallen back into the ways of the previous administration. And while I respect the position that this particular high school official, who I was directed to talk to was taking. ‘No comment? wasn’t going to deter me from getting the story.
So, I had no choice, but to e-mail Tim with the response I was recieving and letting him know. I wasn’t happy about it. Monday rolled into Tuesday and I was at Tim’s office letting him know I needed the details and he could see the look of desperation on my face. Tim, cool and collected, gave a little smile and pat on the shoulder.
‘Don’t worry, I will get you what you need,? he said.
And better late than never, my phone rang at 1 p.m. It was the high school administration with details that could now, all of the sudden, be shared.
So, between Tim’s leadership and the help of Lt. Scott Patterson of the Oakland County Sheriff’s Oxford substation. I was able to finally give you, the readers, the truth and facts.
‘I don’t ever want to come across as a district now (or in the future) that we’re not open and transparent in sharing whatever information we can,? Throne said in a followup phone call ‘I want to be open and transparent.?
It’s refreshing to hear a government official not only say those words, but back them up with action. It says a lot about the man’s character. Thank you, Tim for choosing the ‘harder right rather than the easier wrong.?