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Opinion Editorial Matney right choice for Amarillo College The Amarillo College regents have done the taxpayers, the college community and the business community a great service. They have, in essence, selected Dr. Paul Matney as the next president of Amarillo College. The service the regents did for the taxpayers was to not hire an outside consultant to conduct a national search to replace the late Dr. Steven Jones. The regents did well in using the consultant to find Jones. But consultants, especially "executive recruiters," often charge large fees with little real return for the engagement. Whether the consulting services that found Jones did so as a matter of the consultant's abilities and due diligence or a matter of luck is unknown. The other benefit of not hiring a consultant is it eliminates the governing body's excuse if the hire turns out to be a bad one. While we doubt that will be the case with Matney — he has been on the job almost a year and has proven himself — it is easy to blame the consultant when an expensive hiring mistake occurs. The regents, thankfully, will be accountable on this decision. The college community has been well served because Matney, throughout his career at AC, has shown leadership. Matney knows the system and knows the people. The regents' good service to the business community not only is reflected by saving taxpayer money but also by keeping Matney, who knows the community and the business community's needs. AC has closely tied its curriculum and its strategic planning to the workforce needs of the community. Those who make derogatory remarks either about Matney's role as a TV weatherman or about his being a Democrat insult their own intelligence rather than Matney's. Matney is a consummate professional and his political views will have no bearing on how he guides Amarillo College further into the 21st century. E-mail
comments about this story Posted: June 4, 2009 |
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