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WPCNR SCHOOL DAYS. By John F. Bailey. September 23, 2008 UPDATED 5:55 P.M. EDT WITH LEADERSHIP PROFILE ASSESSMENT you can send in plus EXCLUSIVE PIX: Councilperson Emeritus Mary Ann Keenan commented at the close of the last public gathering held Tuesday morning by the School District,( the purpose to gather “public input” on what the city would desire in a new Superintendent of Schools), that White Plains teachers earn an average $95,000 in the school district and district principals and administrators make an average of $145,000, saying “That’s pathetic. Anyone would say White Plains teachers are well-paid. In picking a trait (in a new Superintendent of Schools) frugality would be Number One.”
In the four meetings so far, 171 persons have appeared, 100 alone at the Centro Hispano edition (held after church). A total of 36 showed up at Bethel Baptist Church last week, 26 Monday evening at the high school and 9 this morning. Keenan ((first on left, background of picture),and another resident Tuesday morning were just two of five persons who noted the inexorably increasing school budget as an issue for any new Superintendent. John Chambers, of Hazard, Young and Attea the Superintendent search consultants chairs the meeting on far right.
Keenan criticized the motives of the district in staging its vote on the $66 Million bond issue in October when no citizen is used to voting, and for assuring that all its supporters got out to vote. Keenan also wandered what the details of the district Strategic Plan were.
Monday Evening Superintendent Search gathering at the high school. 26 Attended.
The plan has been praised in the three previous meetings this reporter has attended, as important for any new Superintendent to support by other attendees. Generalities only of the strategic plan objectives and no specifics of how to achieve those generalities have been distributed publicly to date since the Strategic Plan was adopted. The Strategic Plan has to date offered no specifics on bringing the school budget growth ( up 35% in the five years the present Superintendent has prepared the budget from $135 Million in 2003-04, to $184.4 Million in 2008-2009) under control
Mrs. Keenan’s sentiments were preceded by another resident who called for a new Superintendent with “experience in tightening budgets,” in previous districts, with “an eye to (have) not as much fat in the budget.” (The White Plains School District budget will most likely top $200 Million in 2009-2010.). The resident noted “the fiscal integrity of the new person will be challenged.”
Mrs. Keenan noted the district budget has grown at twice the rate of inflation this year, (but as noted previously, 36% in five years).
No Concern About the Money
Mrs. Keenan and the other budgeting critic today were only the 4th and 5th persons to demand a Superintendent with ability to reign in budget growth in the three meetings observed by WPCNR. In fact several persons, including Bill Pollac, the former member of the Board of Education expressed the observance that any new Superintendent should not sacrifice education quality by cutting the budget. Pollac did say there was need for efficient analysis and interpretation of testing data to move the district forward in raising test scores.
The comments at the Tuesday morning started off listing district strengths, concerns then qualities the participants would like to see in a new Superintendent.
Strengths of the district
The three meetings WPCNR has attended praised the diversity of the district, its programs, the concern and dedication of teachers, their ability to engage parents and be there for parents’ questions.
Advanced courses and course availabilities were praised. Hispanic parents at the Centro Hispano meeting praised the way the district supported them and expressed satisfaction with how the district was dealing with their children, and said they believed in their children learning English.
Others expressed how colleges liked admitting White Plains High School graduates because of their experience with diversity. Parent volunterism was listed as a strength. Timothy Connors, the present Superintendent, scheduled to retire in June, 2009, earned high marks for his accessibility and availability to parents and his presence in the community. Consensus was the district parents at least would love another Timothy Connors or Tabitha Connors.
A Few Grumbles
Dissatisfactions noted were a need for more parent outreach to the African-American community. A disappointment among the African-American community was expressed that teachers did not work more directly with underachieving black youth, or pay them as much attention as white youths or blacks doing well. Illegal students was an issue that was brought up.
A criticism of relying on testing too much was frequently leveled by parents. The need for more advanced course selection recognizing minorities was expressed. The need for more public relations work by the district to “tell our story” was mentioned at all three meetings I attended. The need to raise test scores was voiced. The African American parents speaking at Bethel Baptist Church though generally pleased with the district, expressed concern their children were being left behind, the district’s concerns not withstanding. There was concern that with the economy in recession, that private schools would lose enrollment and that would inflate the district enrollment (already ahead of 2010 projections).
What They Want in a Superintendent
The qualities most wanted in a new Superintendent were concern for the minority community, accessibility, community relations, allegiance to and support of the yet-to-be-fleshed out Strategic Plan, and attention to closing the Achievement Gap and raising test scores.
Aside from the handful of persons criticizing budget issues, no one expressed unhappiness with district management or school taxes, salaries, or the current construction program or the adminstration bureaucracy.
Hire from Within?
There were several suggestions the search firm, Hazard, Young and Attea should consider a person from within the district for Superintendent. Terri Klemm, Principal of George Washington School was mentioned as one person highly respected who would be excellent as Superintendent because she knew the district and “the issues.”
John Chambers and Deborah Raizes, shown Monday evening, the consultants conducting the superintendent search said they would report their findings from their 4 meetings with the community, the Mayor, district teachers, administrators to the Board of Education on October 6 at the Board of Education Meeting and present a slate of candidates to the Board in December, with the Board expected to hire a new Superintendent in January.
Persons wishing to add comment to what is needed in a Superintendent are encouraged to go to the Board of Education website and complete a Leadership Profile Assessment that is available on the site at http://www.wpcsd.k12.ny.us.
Or simply answer the questions below and e-mail them to Hazard, Young and Attea at office@hyasearch.com by the end of this week.