The Board will be interviewing the final 2 High School Principal candidates tonight. After the interview, the Superintendent will make a recommendation to the Board in non-public with the expectation that a final candidate will be chosen and offered the position. In light of the budget cuts that are being proposed, perhaps we should look at all the options before this hiring decision is made.
The State is in the worst economic crisis we have ever seen. There will be downshifted costs to towns and schools which will require budget cuts.
Why hire a new 6 figure salary when we have staff in our District with similar credentials to the two final candidates? We can save the $150k+ for a new position by appointing someone internally. The $150k saved on this position can offset other staff or programs that would otherwise be cut.
In the meantime, we can focus our energy on the new Superintendent. Once that happens, we will know where our budget stands and we can bring the new leader of our District into the hiring process of this key leadership position.
I would like to add parts of a letter my husband and I sent to the school board and the SAU regarding the principal search:
ReplyDeleteApril 11, 2011
To School Board Members & Superintendent Colter:
We are writing to address a few issues we are having with the current principal search.
#1 The Principal Tea, while I appreciate being able to meet the candidates personally, I found the format difficult. The format used to question the school board candidates was much more efficient. While observing the principal candidates: I notice repeat questions, people who may not have had an opportunity to ask questions or address concerns due to the time constraints, the conversational situation between candidate and community member left many waiting, it was extremely difficult to hear conversation due to the acoustics of the room. I left the Tea with the opinion I would have preferred to attend a Tea AFTER I had seen a candidate question forum. I feel I would have better and more specific questions to ask each candidate.
#2 The search process
There was no news other than Mrs. Rogers had given her notice, school board was going ahead with the search, and a committee was to be formed. Then we were down to two candidates. Where was any communication in between? Well, we understand there was a committee. But who is on the committee? Who do we get to share our opinions of what we are looking for in a high school principal? We find out that the vast majority of the committee is made up of teachers, school board members, and parents who are either teachers or past/current school board members. That is NOT DIVERSITY on your committee. That is called groupthink. Why weren’t more parents involved? Why was there no specific forum for parents to discuss their thoughts? Could we not have had a special Brown Bag or Superintendent Coffee to allow for discussion? Simply attending a school board meeting or writing a letter to have your individual thoughts spoken is not DISCUSSION. We are extremely disappointed AGAIN to see an opportunity for parental input disregarded.
#3 Search Policy not adhered to or fully followed. In reading GCC-R, it is clear that previously debated and approved policy was not followed.
Sincerely,
ChrisAnn & Richard Wiechert
Is Oyster River considering offering $150,000+ to a new high school principal? I am all for compensating our teachers and administrators well, but that sounds far beyond the average for NH.
ReplyDeleteI believe that is the over all cost of the employee including benefits. Honestly, I am focused more on the issue bothering me, my opinion regarding parental input.
ReplyDeleteWe are involved in international business, I am truely terrified for students presently. It's a much more competitive world than we are preparing them for~ reality is what it is and logical steps have to be taken.
What do the state's budget problems have to do with filling the high school principal's position? How would appointing an internal person to fill the principal's position save the district money? Would we pay an internal person less? Why?
ReplyDeleteI am concerned at the repeated references to a power struggle between the board and district personnel. The primary interest of the board and district staff is a quality education for Oyster River students, period.
Emma Rous