The second time around allowed the Dracut School Committee to select the person it wanted to lead its school system.

Steven Stone, the former head of special education in Dracut who currently holds the same position in Peabody, survived an initial snub a few months ago to emerge again as the school board's top choice.

Over the objections of many -- including parents of special-education students who weren't at all happy with Stone's previous performance in Dracut -- Stone, for better or worse, will be the one trying to right the financially shaken system, which faces the loss of 54 positions as it begins the next school year.

The time for bickering and back-biting is over. The education system in Dracut is down to the bare bones. It's paying the price for doing more with less for far too long. Now it's going to take the combined efforts of the superintendent and town manager on down to find a way out of this financial mess.

If Stone's people skills need a makeover, we suggest he take a summer course in how to make friends and influence people. While he's at it, he better brush up on his math.

Both these skills will be in demand for the challenges he and the town face in the days ahead.

Simply put, despite the remarkable generosity displayed in the annual Dracut Scholarship Foundation Telethon, the town has continuously underfunded public education.

If that sentiment doesn't change, any superintendent short of Warren Buffett won't make any difference.