Candidates Share Thoughts About Superintendent Search

School Superintendent Chris Rath’s announcement last week that she would be resigning at the end of her current contract did not strike many as a surprise.

A number of years ago, when Rath re-upped for another three years, there was some discussion that she would only be given a one-year extension. Many inside the district presumed that she would want to retire sooner rather than later. When the contract extension kept her in place until mid-2015, the presumption became that Rath would step down at that time.

While the district has committed about $100 million for improvement and infrastructure, and made a number of new hires in key positions that can assist in moving the schools forward, the district still has academic and morale problems.

The search to fill Rath’s shoes will be both daunting and exciting for those involved and the community as a whole.

While the thought of a search process, in earnest, is just sinking in, some current school board members and candidates running for board already have some ideas about what kinds of skill sets they would like to see in a new superintendent, what is lacking and done well now and how to make sure a future leader fixes those problems, and how the next leader will balance out the multifaceted combination of student needs, requirements, and desired outcomes.

The only member of the current school board who isn’t running for re-election to offer comment was Board President Clint Cogswell who stated that they were great questions facing everyone involved but he didn’t want to speak for the board. He added that they would be meeting soon “to discuss procedures and what type of candidate we will look to interview.”

Evan Mulholland, one of the two candidates running for the single two-year District A seat, which represents Wards 1, 2, 3, and 4, which opened up in the wake of Melissa Donovan resigning, said the search would be “one of the school board’s most important responsibilities.” He added, “I would hope to find someone experienced, intelligent, and committed to the best interests of the students enrolled.”

Current school board member Barbara Higgins, who is seeking re-election via the District B seat, Wards 5, 6, and 7, one of three candidates competing for the slot, said it was time for “a fresh perspective on our upcoming challenges and initiatives would be the refreshing change the district is ready for,” especially in light of the building projects being completed and the district’s ever-changing demographics.

“With the administration we have in place, a new fresh face at the helm would be well supported and guided,” she added.

Both of the candidates running for the District C seat – Alana Kimball and Shawn Hackshaw – offered a number of thoughts about the search process.

Kimball said the next superintendent needed to be an effective communicator, inspirational leader, and effective manage, with an open mind.

“If a superintendent enters their tenure with an open mind ready to learn what the district is doing and what it plans to do it will be easier to gain respect and rapport,” she noted. “Change within an organization can be difficult and uncomfortable. If a superintendent is open to hearing what people need and want and makes changes gradually, rather than coming into a district and abruptly making radical changes based on personal beliefs and idealizations, they may be more respected.”

Hackshaw said the search for a qualified candidate would take time and he hoped that the current board would “involve those who are fortunate enough to be elected before their terms begin. A smooth transition into the prolonged search process will benefit all parties.” He added that the district leader would need to have classroom experience in order to ensure that there was a positive working relationship with the most important people in the district, teachers in the classroom.

“The new superintendent will need to be a strong leader who can articulate his/her strategic vision for the school district,” he said. “S/he will need to be willing to communicate openly with the board and the public.”

Kimball added that district had “many great strengths” and people moved to the community because of the many positive aspects of the schools, including “students and alumni (that) have demonstrated repeatedly how much they respect and value the teachers and education they received.” She added, “The new superintendent will have to work to continue the positivity that is happening daily in the district. They will have to promote all of the positive things occurring in the district throughout the entire community and beyond. The superintendent should strive to fix problems that arise in the most professionally and honest way.”

Looking at full-day Kindergarten and the future of the Rundlett Middle School, she added, would need to be looked at, too.

There are many “high priority items in the school district’s future,” Hackshaw noted, which meant that the next leader needed “to be a problem solver” and would need to resolve future issues with “open communication and transparency.”

The next superintendent, Kimball said, would need to prepare “to make effective programming changes to meet the needs of the current students,” as those issues arise, and should foster relationships with area colleges to prepare to open doors for students.

Hackshaw also noted that as history has shown, there needs to be a better understanding of changes in the future with hot topics in education like Common Core standards. He said that 25 years ago, there was a hesitation to accept the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics’ learning recommendations. Now, with Common Core, the same thing was happening again.

“The new superintendent needs to continue the work that is being done at the high school helping teachers to understand and implement these standards,” he said. “This needs to be done at all schools within the district … It is also unwise to think that any standards are the ultimate solution to our educational crisis. Teachers need to have training and support to make these changes happen.”

Other candidates running – Nathan Fennessy, Jim Richards, Patrick Taylor – did not respond to the email requesting comment.