By Andrew Hackmack
The two sides engaged in an open dialogue the evening of Feb. 13 during a focus group gathering at the Shaw Avenue School.
The search for a new superintendent of schools to replace Lawrence McGoldrick, who retired at the end of September, is under way. Results from the focus group meetings will help Board of Education members shape the description of their ideal candidate to lead district schools.
Representatives of the search firm School Leadership LLC met with three groups last Wednesday to gather information for the Board of Education. In addition to the meeting with community members, afternoon focus groups were conducted with teachers and staff, and sixth-grade students. Between 15 and 20 community members turned out for the evening discussion.
The groups were led by Charles Fowler, Vincent Beni and LaRuth Gray. Fowler, president of School Leadership and a retired superintendent of schools, said that searching for a new superintendent is far more difficult than it used to be. Fifteen years ago, he said, a school district would place an ad in The New York Times and get 125 applicants, at least half of them qualified for the job. Today, that same ad will net perhaps 25 applicants, and half will have no experience as a superintendent. "The market is very slim," Fowler said.
And it's not going to get any easier, he added. A high percentage of superintendents in the state are expected to retire in the next three to five years. Superintendent is also no longer a coveted position, because it involves less instructional leadership.
Beni, also a former superintendent, explained that the purpose of the search firm is to help the district find its perfect superintendent, while also making sure the district and its choice are the right fit for each other. "I think the value that we bring to the process is the match that we do," Beni said.
The search firm representatives asked residents three questions:
n What are the good things about Valley Stream District 30?
n What are the issues the new superintendent will face?
n What kind of leadership style and experience should the superintendent have?
Marie Laudani suggested that because of the demographics of the district, the new superintendent should know a second language. She also said she wants a schools leader who will expand the science curriculum, because science has been forgotten in these days of expanding state testing. "It's a full day that the kids have," Laudani said. "Maybe it's time to change things around."
One common suggestion from parents was that the superintendent shouldn't just be concerned with test scores. Fowler explained that students, in their focus group, shared a similar sentiment. "They, like many of the parents, felt there was an overemphasis on test analysis," he said.
Parent Jude Jolibois said that the new superintendent should be someone who connects with students and teachers and is willing to listen to the community. Other parents agreed that they want someone in the position who will be a good communicator.
Marie Antoinette Bernard said she is concerned with large classes in the district. Last year her son was in a class of more than 25 students, but this year it has been split into two. Bernard said her son is learning much more in a smaller class setting, and she believes this should be the trend throughout the district.
Other suggestions included finding a prospective superintendent who is conscious of the needs of the taxpayers, someone who has an advanced degree, and someone who knows how to read, analyze and properly use student test data.
Jolibois said that in New York state, the average superintendent holds his or her position for about six years. As far as Jolibois was concerned, that is not nearly long enough. "If the person is looking for retirement," he said, "it's not going to be good for us."
Fowler said the average is actually closer to five years, since many people don't get their first superintendent's job until after they are 50. District 30's last superintendent led the district for 16 years. "Mr. McGoldrick is very unusual in that regard," Fowler said.
Beni added that the district has had remarkable stability in its leadership. This is only the second time in three decades that the post has changed hands: McGoldrick's predecessor, William Van Ness, also had a long tenure, 14 years. "This district hasn't gone through a superintendent search in many years," Beni said, "so it's a big event."
Where it goes from here
Members of the search firm will put together a report based on the input from the three focus groups. The information will be presented to the Board of Education before Monday's meeting.
Board of Education President Dr. Maria Fletcher said the public's suggestions will be combined with the board's own vision to create a set of criteria the candidates should meet. Fletcher said it is important that the specifications reflect the entire District 30 community, not just the five members of the board.
After reviewing all the information, the board will officially adopt a final set of criteria. That information will be available to the public.
As applications start coming in, the search firm will do the initial screenings and select a group of five or six candidates to meet with the Board of Education. Fletcher said the trustees would then winnow that group down to two or three candidates.
"This is going to take a while," Fletcher said. "I'm hopeful that by the end of April we will have selected someone."
Fletcher explained that when the board selects its top candidates, some members of the public, faculty and administration will be asked to meet with them. The purpose will not be to make a recommendation, Fletcher said, but rather to give the board some feedback.
Fowler said that the most crucial part of the search is the background check of potential candidates. "Somebody can be anything they want to be for a two-hour interview," he said.
The position has been advertised at a minimum salary of $200,000, which Fowler said is average for Nassau County. He said that there are 10 or so other school districts on Long Island currently searching for superintendents. Fowler said that the fact that District 30 only goes up to grade 6 should work in its favor. "People like leadership in the elementary schools," he said.
Fletcher said she is hopeful that the right candidate is out there. Because the last two superintendents have had such long tenures, she said, the board is very aware how important this search is. "If that legacy continues of staying for a long time," she said, "then we really need to make the best choice."
Comments about this story? AHackmack@liherald.com or (516) 569-4000 ext. 265.
