Morris Gets Cautious Backing

City Leaders Question Handling Of Appointment Of Ex-school Board Chair To Job Under Alonso

"It has the appearance of favoritism, regardless of the qualifications of the person hired," said Donald F. Norris, professor and chairman of the department of public policy at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County. In public organizations, he said, positions are nearly always advertised, particularly when they are highly paid.

"You want it to be ethical, and you want it to have all the appearances of being ethical. ... It has the appearance of a backroom deal," he said.

Morris' job description says that he will be responsible for support and services that are provided to the schools, including finance, facilities, health and safety, transportation, food and nutrition, human resources and technology. In addition, Morris will have responsibilities "guiding and directing financial accounting and fiscal management activities for all operating funds."

Alonso said that he recommended Morris for the job because he has come to depend on him and that when Morris' term was ending, Alonso began to have discussions with him about how he could keep him involved in city schools.

"Brian has been an extraordinary partner in the work," Alonso said. He described Morris as having "extraordinary capacity, institutional understanding, complete understanding of my vision and ... a mastery of details of the district that were unmatched."

Alonso said he had been given a lot of authority and support by the board "that has enabled me to push as hard as I have pushed."

Morris encouraged the board to hire Alonso and has helped deliver the necessary votes for Alonso's initiatives.