Parents and residents broke into small groups to discuss questions for the superintendent search process at a forum on Thursday held by the School Committee. (Photo by Amy Porter)
WESTFIELD – Twenty-five parents and residents joined all but one School Committee member at a meeting Thursday at South Middle School to express their thoughts on who would make an ideal candidate for superintendent.
Following the opening of the meeting, Mayor Brian P. Sullivan gave the floor to Vice Chair Ramon Diaz, Jr., who is taking the lead in the search process. Diaz passed out questionnaires and asked that they be answered in small groups, and then shared with the whole room.
“I do promise you that we are going to use these, and it’s not a waste of time,” Diaz said. “We know what’s important to us. We want to know what’s important to you.”
The small groups were then given about a half hour to discuss the questions.
During the sharing time, led by School Committee member Cynthia Sullivan, many common themes emerged. Among them were transparency, a commitment to Westfield, familiarity with special education and its processes, and the need for more and newer technology. Also mentioned several times was the need to build the new elementary school, as well as consistency of programs and quality of education across all the schools.
In response to the first question regarding the characteristics, background and experiences the new superintendent should possess, several groups emphasized the need for both an educational and business background, someone who could manage the directives from the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) as well as deal with budgets and finances. Others mentioned the desire for a strong motivator, someone who was honest and consistent, and who understood the whole spectrum of special needs.
In response to a comment asking that the search be open to everybody, not just somebody the School Committee already had in mind, Diaz said, “There’s nobody that’s pre-selected right now. I promise you that.”
The second question asked parents and community members what they saw as the vision for the school district over the next three years.
At the Parent Forum, Westfield resident Kathy Doody, a former teacher and administrator in another district, said to applause that the new superintendent needed to be kid-focused. “It’s all about the kids,” Doody said. (Photo by Amy Porter)
“High standards for students, not high stakes testing – real learning,” said Melissa Rutkowski, one of the parent organizers of SEPAC (Special Education Parent Advisory Council), for her group.
Also repeated was the need for consistency and quality in the schools, access to technology that’s current, more recess, and the need to improve the overall sense of community.
The third question asked what immediate challenges the new superintendent would face in the first six months. Answers ranged from building the new elementary school and re-accrediting Westfield High School, to rebuilding pride in the school system.
Many parents said they would like the new superintendent to make a point of meeting people in the community, and being more visible at school events, as well as visiting classrooms during school hours.
As to what questions they would like asked of the candidates, the group had to be reminded by Sullivan that some questions could not be legally asked, such as how close are you to retirement, or will you send your school-aged children, if you have them, to Westfield Public Schools.
A question that could be asked was what the candidate saw in the Westfield materials that was most revealing and surprising, and why they wanted the position. Others centered on staff morale and training, on experience with special education, and what actual experience they’d had in implementing a vision and turning around a school district.
A concern voiced by many in attendance was the need for a rigorous background check, and being able to verify what the candidates were stating as their accomplishments.
Westfield native Matthew Roman said his concern about the new superintendent was a thorough background check. “We don’t want to see what happened at Westfield State University happen here,” Roman said. (Photo by Amy Porter)
Diaz said that the Massachusetts Association of School Committees (MASC) would be reviewing all of the resumes.
“MASC is looking out for us. They don’t want us to end up with anyone who’s going to cause us a problem,” Diaz said.
After the meeting, Matthew Roman, a lifelong Westfield resident who attended the forum reemphasized the point.
“We don’t want to see what happened at Westfield State University happen here,” Roman said, referring to the issues with former President Dr. Evan Dobelle.
Diaz assured everyone that the School Committee would do its “due diligence.”
When asked if anyone had other comments to make, Westfield resident Kathy Doody, a former teacher and administrator in another district spoke up.
“I think everything that’s been said in the participation is so important,” she said. “I want them to have a passion for children, somebody who is focused on children. It’s all about the kids.”
Her comments were met by general applause in the room.
“If you don’t have it, don’t be an educator, and certainly don’t be running the schools,” Doody said.
Diaz thanked everybody for their comments. Earlier he had reminded them that a parent survey with the same questions is posted on the website at www.schoolsofwestfield.org, and encouraged people who hadn’t taken the survey to do so. To date, they have received 275 responses to the survey which closes on Monday, the same deadline closes for applications for the position.
Diaz also invited parents to sign up after the meeting if they were interested in serving on the selection committee. He said there will be a limited number of slots for parents. Five parents volunteered, including Marie Yvon.
“The concerns that were brought to the table were spot on,” Yvon said about the forum.
