Editorial (published in Enterprise 1/6) critical of Selection Process December 30, 2003

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Joseph Gillis Jr

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The following article was submitted to the Enterprise for publication.  It was published on 1/6/04.  The important issue to remember is that the entire review took six minutes and did NOT include parents, teachers, taxpayers.  The decision was made by those members in attendance (not everyone was there) at a School Committee Meeting. December 30, Editorial on Selection Process for B-R Superintendent "Six minutes"    Normally, when a Superintendent announces his/her retirement from a School System, it provides an opportunity for the School Committee to conduct a self-awareness study.  There are typically focus groups with parents, residents, teachers, town officials and administrators to review where the schools have been, where they currently are, and where we want them to be in the future.  The Bridgewater-Raynham School Committee, by skipping this step, has said to the parents, residents, teachers and town officials that their input is not wanted nor needed.    Next up for most School Systems is the creation of a five-year plan (or other long range plan), designed to quantify the goals and objectives for the future.  For instance, six years ago when current Superintendent Gerhart was selected, MCAS was just on the horizon.  Now, not only do we have educational concerns with MCAS, but also with 'No Child Left Behind' Initiatives. Four-five-six years ago, the stock market was riding high; states were taking in record amounts in capital gains revenue, perpetuating the thought that the money would never end, and communities would always have plenty of state funds.  Now, with MA having a $2B structural deficit for the upcoming year, finances are not rosy any longer.  B-R has activity fees, athletic fees, bus fees and parking fees in an attempt to close the shortfall.  However, the B-R School Committee decided to skip this step also.    After the goals and objectives are determined in most School Systems, the required skills and characteristics of the next Superintendent can be defined.  From here, the job can be advertised to recruit the best possible candidate to lead a School System with its stated goals and towards its long range plan.  However, the B-R School Committee just jumped right to this last step, and in six minutes at the December 17th Meeting, decided on offering the position to current Assistant Superintendent Robert McIntyre.    This is the same School Committee that every year takes part of three meetings to decide on a school year calendar.  That process is worthy of three meetings, but the appointment of a Superintendent is completed in six minutes.

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