Fosters: Vote expected today on interim OR superintendent

Fosters Daily Democrat published an article by reporter Roni Reino detailing the public interviews of the two interim superintendent candidates, Michelle Langa and Leon Levesque. The Board is expected to appoint an interim superintendent at today's meeting.

Vote expected today on interim OR superintendent

By RONI REINO
rreino@fosters.com
Wednesday, July 6, 2011

DURHAM — The Oyster River School Board is down to two final candidates for the interim superintendent position and is expected to vote this afternoon on a possible selection.

On Tuesday, board members held public interviews with Michelle Langa and Leon Levesque.

Langa was superintendent for SAU 61 in Farmington and Middleton from 2006 to 2010, and also an assistant superintendent for SAU 50 in Greenland, New Castle, Newington and Rye from 1999 to 2004. She has more than 30 years experience in education with many years focused working with special education.

"I have seen a broad spectrum of educational services," she said.

Levesque was the superintendent of the Lewiston School Department in Lewiston, Maine, from 1998 to 2010. Levesque was also a superintendent for Hallowell, Maine, from 1993 to 1998. He said he retired from that district last year to take a "needed break," and after six months said he is recharged and ready to go again as an interim superintendent.

Both were asked similar questions during separate sessions before the School Board. Business Administrator Sue Caswell, Director of Instruction Meredith Nadeau and interim High School Principal Todd Allen were also allowed to ask questions during the interview process as part of the search committee.

When asked the candidates' beliefs on what the role of an interim superintendent should be for the Oyster River School District, Langa quickly replied it would be to support the ongoing movement within the district related to goals and initiatives. She said an interim superintendent should be able to solidify the staff and continue the busy summer work of applying for grants, finishing any remaining reports and prepare for any need of new hires.

"It is not a time to sit back and relax," she said about the summer. "But I do see the interim superintendent would be there to support the community and your ongoing initiatives while nurturing the staff in its transition."

Levesque said an interim superintendent is a "transition person" and needs to make sure initiatives are still maintained, while building good relationships with staff and community members.

While Langa described herself as a facilitator, Levesque said he feels strongly about building leadership within the community.

"I think it's clear schools are about learning, they are for the kids," he said. "The focus is on youth and providing them the best opportunities."

Both candidates were asked how they would approach developing a budget. Langa said she has been trained in "zero-based budgeting" and would approach each line as if they were started fresh each year. She also said she would want to inform the community well in advance what the budget means for the students, staff and taxpayers so residents would know what they are voting on during elections.

"We need to be good stewards of the community's dollars," she said.

Levesque said for past budgets, he has found that presenting a working budget, or rough draft, to the school community often helps to establish guidelines and to see where adjustments should be made.

When School Board members asked how the candidates would each approach keeping district policies in check, Langa said she would suggest bringing policies before the board regularly to encourage everyone be up-to-date.

Levesque admitted that although keeping up with policy may not be the most exciting task, it is necessary and he would look at combing through policies with the board to make sure it was being followed.

When talk turned to promoting community communications, Levesque said he believed each school has the capacity to reach its community members using letters, the local press and an updated website.

Langa said she would be strong with decisions and helping the district and community communicate.

"I use technology to reach people that I can't reach face-to-face," she said, adding she is a frequent user of e-mails and newsletters.

She also said she knows how to write a blog and would use any technological tools available to communicate the message of the district with the community.

When it came time for candidates to ask questions of the board, Langa asked what type of person members were looking for in an interim superintendent.

Member Megan Turnbull said she would hope an interim superintendent would have strong communication skills and be able to work with the board, staff and the community.

Allen said he wanted someone who is visible in the schools, while Board Chair Henry Brackett suggested someone who can motivate the staff.

Levesque asked committee members what they saw as critical initiatives. His response from Brackett indicated he was looking for someone to help move the district forward.

Following the public interviews, board members deliberated on the candidates. However, Brackett said they would have to hold off the vote until today when members could post a meeting in which they could vote.

Former Middle School teacher and Durham resident John Parsons said although he wasn't ready to say which candidate he felt more strongly about, he was glad the School Board held the open session and asked a variety of questions.

"The obvious question is how the new interim superintendent is going to help members of the board work together," he said.

With recent talk surrounding the superintendent's departure, the high school principal's resignation and the process to replace her, Parsons said he hopes the selected interim superintendent will help the public and the board move the community forward.

Durham resident Seth Fiermonti said he was glad the interviews were open to the public and was pleased he was able to hear what the two finalists had to say.

School Board members are expected to meet today at 2 p.m. at the high school in room C-124 to vote on selecting a possible interim superintendent.