Date: Fri 22-Jan-1999

Publication: Bee

Author: CURT

Quick Words:

Reed-personnel-changes

Full Text:

Competition And Opportunity Create Vacancies In The School System

BY ANN MARIE COHEN

Personnel changes in the Newtown School District seem to be at an all time

high. Superintendent of Schools John Reed noted this week that "I haven't seen

so much activity in the 25 years that I have been an administrator."

Dr Reed faces the task of finding the professionals to fill the vacancies

created by retirements and increasing enrollments in the school district.

Four administrators will need to be replaced in less than one year.

At a Board of Education meeting January 12, board members approved the

appointment of Ronald Bienkowski to become the district's next business

director. Mr Bienkowski will take over the job that John Torok, Jr, held until

last month when he accepted another position in Danbury.

The district will also be seeking to hire two new principals. Gary Hexom will

be leaving Middle Gate School on June 30 to join his wife who has taken a job

in California as superintendent in the Sager Unified School District.

Mr Hexom has enjoyed his 2« years in Newtown. He feels that the children have

been "phenomenal " both in achievement and behavior.

Les Weintraub, principal of Newtown Middle School, has been offered the

position of school superintendent in the Armonk, N.Y. school system. His

contract is in the final stages of negotiation. He says he is very excited

about this opportunity.

Mr Weintraub will stay on for 60 days from the time he formally announces his

resignation.

Acting Assistant Principal Mary Lou Torre left the Middle School last fall in

order to accept an administrative job in another state. Frank Arnone, who held

administrative jobs in Weston and Greenwich was hired to replace her.

Last year, Susan Battersby of Darien, a former K-12 science coordinator joined

the Newtown High School administration as assistant principal, replacing

Marilyn Capizzano who left to become a high school principal in New York

State.

At the elementary school level, Jo-Ann Peters, former assistant principal at

East Haddam Elementary School began her new position last month as principal

of Hawley Elementary School, replacing Linda Siciliano who left to become a

principal in the Danbury School district.

Change Isn't Always Orderly

What does Dr Reed think about all the changes? First, he said he will miss the

many contributions each staff member has made. Normally, he asks for a

five-year commitment when hiring administrators, but he understands that

change doesn't usually occur in a nice evenly spaced progression. He noted

that the current personnel changes are largely due to the growth of school

systems that are looking for experienced educators, creating opportunities

with attractive salaries in other districts. The competition has never been so

great for educators, he said, particularly in the areas of science, math and

library media.

Dr Reed anticipates hiring between 55-60 teachers and two principals by next

year. An early retirement package was offered to save the district money and

to offset salary increases. $10,000 was offered for five consecutive years to

those taking early retirement.

In the meantime, Dr Reed maintains a positive outlook for the Newtown school

system, concluding "This is a very stimulating, exciting time to be working in

Newtown!"