EDITORIAL

IT'S HARD to argue with the State Board of Education's unanimous decision to pick Freida Hill to lead the two-year college system.

From all indications, Ms. Hill, the deputy commissioner of Georgia's technical college system, was the best-qualified candidate in the field of applicants for the chancellor's position. She has a wealth of experience that is relevant to the chancellor's job. In Georgia, she's served as a statewide technical college system administrator, a technical college president, a dean of continuing education and an economic development director. Ms. Hill also has experience in the private sector, including a brief stint as an investment adviser.

Ms. Hill's background fits Gov. Bob Riley's vision of a chancellor who can emphasize workforce development and make the two-year system a partner in the state's economic development efforts.

The new chancellor's main task (she won't officially take over until she passes a background check and signs a contract) will be to move beyond the political struggles that marked former Chancellor Bradley Byrne's tenure.

Mr. Byrne, who stepped down to run for governor, took the chancellor's job in May 2007 in the midst of a firestorm of controversy over corruption in the system. Using political skills he acquired as a legislator as well as his knowledge of the community colleges — he had previously served on the State Board of Education — Mr. Byrne was able to put out the fires and restore stability to the system.

Ms. Hill will need to show some political savvy in dealing with the Alabama Education Association and other opponents of the reforms enacted under Mr. Byrne. But thanks to the work of Mr. Byrne and the state board, she should be able to devote most of her time to the normal tasks of a two-year college system leader.

She set the right tone when asked about the system's tumultuous recent history. "I'm going to be looking through the windshield and not in the rearview mirror," she said.

The Press-Register editorial board hopes that the new chancellor will be able to keep her eyes fixed on the future of the community college system.