13 More School Days, The Countdown Begins

Will the countdown stop on Monday? We have 13 more school days until our school system has no leader. Don’t you think we need a leader? Geez, thank goodness for the teachers in this school district. They can keep it going, but we deserve a strong, knowledgeable and communicative leader.  Hopefully, the BOE will approve the motion to appoint Mr. Engravalle on Monday, October 17th, at 8PM at School 1. If not, I guess we are looking at a retiree who doesn't know Fort Lee, doesn't understand the dynamic and will cost the district at least $1K per diem.

And think about it: who will be running the district's day-to-day operations anyway? Yep, Mr. Engravalle (even if we are paying the retiree). Then what will happen? Because we did not stand by him, maligned him, why should he commit to us? For another year as an assistant? He will be poached away by a district that has greater aspirations for their own district than we do for ours, and we will be left with that retiree who doesn’t know us.  

Last night's special meeting was uneventful. The feeling in the room was a little uncomfortable, eerily quiet, less than one-third full. The BOE president had to encourage the gallery to speak a few times. We all just kind of looked around at each other, wondering. Slowly people would get up and speak. There were good points and questions, a lot of support for Mr. Engravalle, a lot of constructive encouragement for the BOE and just one or two negative statements. Next time, I think I will just print my blogs out and read them! I am out of practice for public speaking!

This was not at all reminiscent of the drama, accusations and bullish behavior that happened at the previous meeting. Some were disappointed in the lack of drama, but it was good to see cooler heads prevail. It was good to see that people have come around to understand that the school district has a greater immediate need of leadership, and the questions can be asked when the school district is stabilized, when we appoint a long-term, permanent Superintendent. I too will be asking many of the same questions that were brought up last night, and I am sure quite a few more.  

One resident, Mr. Sugarman, stated clearly that this is a ‘process’. YES!!! This is what I have been touting for a week or two now in my blogs. The progression of leadership in the absence of the Superintendent is the Assistant Superintendent!  The second in command would ‘captain’ the ship if the origanal one is not there. It make sense, right?  So, thank you, Mr. Sugarman, for stating this so eloquently and clearly. Your comment was a pivotal point last night!  I hope to hear from you again.  

I still do not think the meeting was necessary and only mildly productive, if at all. A BOE member did state that he was a little disappointed in the lack of drama. Yes, disappointed in the lack of drama, but happy to see the support for the school district. Hopefully, they will understand that there is more support for doing what is best for our district as a whole than there is in emotionally explosive rhetoric. I don’t know about any of you, but I do not want BOE members to be looking for more drama or creating a venue for emotional drama. I want them to listen with intent and be able to decipher issues from emotion. I want the group as a whole to be above any and all of the side-tracking behaviors. There is too much work to be done. Forge ahead! Besides, I am sure the closed-door meeting offers enough of that very drama!

I hope to see all the new gallery members at the next BOE meeting!