Another Missed Opportunity

To the Editor:

The superintendent’s evaluation was released to the public. I find it very interesting. Clearly it reflects the input of the majority, whose members have been preoccupied with removing Dr Robinson ever since election season. The superintendent hasn’t been able to sneeze without hearing about it in the newspapers.

Yet, despite having the majority, the evaluation shows they are not able to fire Dr Robinson and they are not even able to terminate her current contract. I’m sure they tried, but the fact that they couldn’t says a lot more about her performance than the evaluation itself.

In fact, they can’t even state a single legitimate example to support their statements under “weaknesses.” There is no reference to the communications consultant, which suggests to me that the superintendent did not violate any rules or policies.

There is also no reference to the superintendent wasting taxpayer funds or not doing enough to reduce spending in the district. I think this is huge. What does that tell you if they can’t point to a single case where the superintendent was fiscally irresponsible? Will this lead to the BOE informing the public that there is no waste, the district continues to be cost-effective and please come back and reinvest in Newtown’s education program?

 And finally, the reference to board members claiming it is difficult to know the real story in the superintendent’s statements... that one takes the cake because we all know which board member is making those claims and why. More on that later.

This evaluation represents another missed opportunity. I am disappointed that not a single district accomplishment was highlighted. Not one. And it certainly doesn’t reflect the BOE chair’s own statement last month when she addressed the Legislative Council. She described the district as “excellent.” Instead it reflects trivial individual agenda issues that some BOE members still haven’t been able to move beyond. It reflects a working relationship undermined by newly elected BOE members committed only to finding, or creating, the mistake that will eventually cause the superintendent’s demise.

I’ll be the first to say there is lots of room for improvement, particularly with how the superintendent and the district communicates with the public. I made that clear while serving on the LC last year. I also believe that more can be done to find new and creative ways to preserve quality education at lower cost. And I know that checks and balances are needed to ensure the superintendent and the BOE remain on the same page. But I don’t see any of these things in this evaluation.

There is nothing constructive here that will help the superintendent measure and improve specific performance areas that would do the most to move the district and the community forward. I see nothing from the BOE about their own commitment going forward. Will they finally become fully invested in Dr Robinson’s success? Can she count on their support as she works through making the necessary changes? Another missed opportunity.

Kevin Fitzgerald

24 Old Farm Hill Road, Newtown                                 June 27, 2012