Dear Editor:
I am writing in response to Tuesday’s article about the School Superintendent search. I cannot believe that so many intelligent people are whining about a $10,000 expense to help find the best superintendent for Westfield. This is BY FAR one of the most important and influential positions in the city of Westfield. The ten thousand dollar expense is tiny in comparison to the compensation package and the scope of responsibility.
I had this same argument a few months ago with some of the City Councilors about spending a few hundred dollars to advertise for some of the City Hall management positions. To me, it’s worth a few dollars to have a broad search and to recruit the best candidate for the job – not to just accept someone from a smaller pool of candidates who happen to read the local newspapers, or visit our city website while the ad is up, or who may be related to someone already in City government.
The value of the Superintendent’s contract will exceed $500,000 (with benefits and taxes); the Superintendent is responsible for an operating budget of almost $60 million per year; and, the Superintendent is responsible for the education of about 6,000 of our kids per year.
Ten thousand dollars is a bargain if we either get a great superintendent, or if they filter out the mediocre candidates. The cost of hiring the wrong person is enormous – both in direct dollars and when considering the long-term ramifications of a run-of-the-mill (or worse) education for our kids.
In the private sector, a search could cost thirty percent or more of the first year’s total compensation. Executive searches for a business leader for a $60 million enterprise could cost in excess of $100,000. There are lots of mid-level jobs in the private sector, particularly in technology or sciences, that have signing bonuses in excess of $10,000.
I think we should invest the money that is necessary to get the best Superintendent possible – one that can help advance our educational system; inspire our students, parents, and educators; manage a very tight slow-growing budget; lead a team of hundreds of educators and support staff; and, one that will not be looking at this job as a three-year stepping stone for some future opportunity or a short-term gateway to retirement.
Let’s not be penny wise and pound foolish.
Regards,
Dave Flaherty
City Councilor
[email protected]
