LIKE THE NBA’S 76ERS, RICHMOND PUBLIC SCHOOLS ARE ASKING US TO “TRUST THE PROCESS”

The NBA’s Philadelphia 76ers are currently 18-7, sporting the Eastern Conference’s best record. They feature two of the NBA’s top 25 players in Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid, and have a few other quality players on their roster. They have one of the league’s most respected coaches in Doc Rivers (2000 Coach of the Year, 2008 NBA Champion) and have one of the most innovative, praised, and controversial general managers in Daryl Morey.

The Sixers have made the playoffs the last three years and have played in the Eastern Conference Semifinals two out of the last three years. Most people would look at that recent history and say, “not bad.” (As a Knicks fan, I certainly would take those recent accomplishments.)

But what we see now in Philly is the result of unimaginable pain. The Sixers are just now coming out of one of the most horrific losing streaks in NBA history, simply named “The Process.” It was one of the most difficult stretches of basketball ever played by a professional franchise.

The process was orchestrated by general manager Sam Hinkie, who is no longer with the organization. The coach of the process, Brett Brown, is no longer with the organization. The head of basketball operations, Bryan Colangelo, is no longer with the organization. High draft picks Nerlens Noel, and Jahlil Okafor are no longer with the team. And the 2017 number one overall draft pick, Markelle Fultz, is no longer on the team. The Sixers had a 10-72 record in the 2015-2016 season, the 3rd worst winning percentage in NBA history. They were terrible. And honestly, they were not trying to be good at that time.

I could go on about the Sixers, but this post is not about the Sixers as much as it is about the process. The Sixers adopted a motto, “Trust the Process.” And the organization rode that motto through very tough times; they even built a media campaign behind the slogan.

Monday night, the Richmond School Board decided to trust their process by offering Superintendent Jason Kamras a four-year contract extension. The vote was 6-3.

The contract negotiations were intense. Mr. Kamras has been steadfast in his desire to stay in Richmond. However, he was equally adamant about his request for a standard four-year extension, valued at more than $1 million in salary and benefits. He made it public: four-years, or he would plan to leave RPS. He was hired at a salary of $250,000 in 2018.

The advocacy organization, Richmond For All, which touts School Board members Kenya Gibson (3rd District) and Stephanie Rizzi (5th District) as products of their electoral efforts, advocated for a shorter contract and ultimately voted no on Mr. Kamras’ contract extension. Other legacy advocacy groups like the Richmond NAACP and Richmond Crusade for Voters, whose education advocacy rarely makes the press (if ever), advocated for a two-year contract as well. If I were keeping score (and we all are in some way), all three of those organizations took an L on their efforts this time around.

While organizers behind the #KeepKamras campaign (I see you Shannon Strategies), community advocates like former city council candidate Amy Wentz, businessman Marland Buckner, the collective Richmond Together, and even Mayor Levar Stoney should feel pretty good about this recent victory on behalf of Kamras.

Now comes the most challenging part of what has already been a challenging and unprecedented tenure for Mr. Kamras. The part of the process where the benefit of the doubt is removed. Note: This is also around the time when people like Hinke and Colangelo got fired, and players like Fultz and Okafor got traded. This is the start of the turnaround or bust hourglass.

Mr. Kamras has the contract he wants and his team in place. His immediate focus needs to be placed on safety, equity, and results like graduation rates, school accreditations, and operational transparency.

COVID-19 has dramatically impacted families of color. The pandemic has had a horrifying impact on students of color, especially in localities with widespread poverty. The city of Richmond fits all the benchmarks for education/pandemic disater. Mr. Kamras’s safety-first approach has demonstrated an ability to maneuver on the fly under difficult circumstances. He has also been praised for his long-term vision, advocacy for school funding, and his media savvy. Now is the time for adjustments that will result in a collection of small victories.

The Sixers made the unpopular decision of trading the present for the future. But it seems to be working now. The Richmond School Board has decided to trust their process. They are banking on a better future with Mr. Kamras as the helm.

Following the 10 wins season of 2015-16, the Sixers won 28 games in 2016-17. They missed the playoffs, but their progress clearly indicated a move in the right direction. They won 52 games the next year and made it to the Eastern Conference semifinals. I guess the equivalent to the playoffs are benchmarks like school accreditation and graduation rates – reducing arrest in schools and increasing attendance. These are the factors that will ultimately judge the RPS’s process. Let’s face it, winning the NBA championship in the next five years may be more manageable.

#WESEEIT