By:Andrew Coen
Months after Dr. Charles Fowler announced that he would step down as superintendent of the Hewlett-Woodmere School District on June 30, the school board went to Iowa to find the district-s next leader.
At the Jan. 21 Hewlett-Woodmere school board meeting, the board unanimously approved the appointment of Dr. Les Omotani, superintendent of the West Des Moines Community Schools for the past eight years, as the district-s new superintendent. He will assume the post on July 1.
Omotani-s contract is for five years, at an annual salary of $230,000, an increase of $72,545 over the $157,455 he earned in Iowa. The new salary is the same as Fowler-s.
Omotani has called Hewlett-Woodmere one of the finest school districts on Long Island and in New York, where, he said, the district has built a great reputation.
We are extremely pleased that Dr. Omotani has accepted the invitation of the Board of Education to come to Hewlett-Woodmere, said school board President Richard Braverman. His outstanding and successful initiatives in West Des Moines, a suburban school district of excellence much like our own, made him a unanimous choice to lead Hewlett-Woodmere in the coming years. Dr. Omotani-s strengths line up very well with those our community indicated they valued during the input process in our superintendent search.
Omotani, 51, said that despite the fact that the West Des Moines district has more than twice as many students as Hewlett-Woodmere, there are many similarities between the two suburban school systems. I think that the expectations of parents, students and graduates are more alike than different, he said. The size of the school districts will be a difference, but I see that as an opportunity, because I look forward to interacting with students, teachers and staff. I am looking forward to getting to know a new group of students, parents, teachers and community.
Omotani was selected from among four finalists after the board had narrowed the field down from more than 30 applicants. School board Vice President Howard Weinick and board member Teena Ditchek Korman visited the West Des Moines Community Schools earlier this month, and board members Marcy Goldberg, Stephanie Gould, Jill Stern and Stephen Witt contacted educators, parents and community members in Iowa and other locations. The entire board participated in the search, said Braverman.
West Des Moines is to education what [the] Field of Dreams is to baseball, said Weinick. Les Omotani is not only one of the most incredible superintendents I have ever met, but one of the most inspiring people I have ever met.
This is the Scarsdale of Iowa, said Witt in describing the prestigious reputation of the West Des Moines school system.
I think he is going to be a wonderful fit for our community and school district, said Stern during the Jan. 21 board meeting.
Omotani has not yet set any goals for District 14, but wants to learn more from community members about what direction they would like to see the district go. I want to do a lot of listening and hear from what the community-s goals, hopes and aspirations are, he said.
The West Des Moines school district has more than 8,800 students in 10 elementary schools, two junior high schools, a ninth grade high school, a grade 10-through-12 high school and an alternative high school. The school system garnered national recognition by winning the 2002 and 2003 School System What Parents Want Award from School Match, and was also named to Offspring magazine-s list of the top 100 school districts in the U.S. West Des Moines boasted the latest technology under Omotani, who helped establish first in the nation alliances between both Xerox and IBM and the school system.
The search conducted by the board from September to January drew praise. I applaud the board in doing such a thorough job in [finding someone to replace] Dr. Fowler, said Central Council Co-PTA President Stephanie Price.
Although it-s very difficult to replace Dr. Fowler, it-s nice to see that the board took into account the community-s concerns, said resident Cliff Breyer, who attended a public input meeting for the superintendent search on Oct. 10.
The Canadian-born Omotani holds bachelor-s and master-s degrees from the University of Calgary, and earned his Ph.D. in education administration at Iowa State University. In 1992 Iowa State awarded him the Excellence in Education Administration Award, and in 2002 he received the state of Iowa-s Governor-s Volunteer Awards for outstanding service. He has also been a teacher at all levels of education, from elementary school social studies to seminars for master-s candidates.
Prior to becoming superintendent in West Des Moines, Omotani was an associate superintendent in the Medicine Hat School District in Alberta, which is one of Canada-s most successful districts.
Omotani has many hobbies, including scuba diving and skiing; he is a certified ski instructor. He also enjoys writing, swimming, photography and travel. He is a strong supporter of the fine arts, with a background in choral music and trumpet, which he has played in bands as well as orchestras.
The approval of Omotani came at the same meeting in which the board approved the resignations of Fowler and Assistant Superintendent for Business Dr. Karen Chapman. Fowler, who has been Hewlett-Woodmere-s superintendent since 1995, announced his retirement last June. According to Braverman, a replacement for Chapman is expected to be named by June, and she will help with the transition during the summer months.
Omotani had nothing but positive things to say about the man he will be replacing. Dr. Fowler has a national reputation, and I am honored to follow him, he said. He and I have already established a good relationship.
Fowler and Chapman drew kind words from the school board and the public at the Jan. 21 meeting. They are absolutely two of the best administrators that anybody can find anywhere, said Braverman. They will be sorely missed.
I wish the best to our retiring administration, with high regard for what they have done for this district, said Korman.
Corinne Boni, who attends most school board meetings and has been an outspoken critic of many of the district-s decisions, also offered kind words for the two retiring administrators. I will miss you and am sorry that you are going, Boni told Fowler. And of Chapman, she added, I think she is one of the most honest people I have ever met.
The next regular school board meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, Feb. 4, at 8 p.m. at the Woodmere Education Center, 1 Johnson Place. There is also a budget work meeting scheduled for Tuesday, Feb. 3, at 8 p.m. at the center.
