BOE Meeting to Address Sup Search

Tonight's Board of Education agenda includes the long-awaited status of the superintendent search. 

There has been no news about the superintendent search for many weeks,  so I was relieved to see that it will be discussed tonight.    I have emailed Dr. Papallo and Board Chair Glenn Iannaconne a couple of times to ask them about the search and interview process, but my questions have gone unanswered.

The selection of a superintendent is the most important decision this district will make for years. Parents want to be assured that this Board is doing everything it possibly can to find the best person for the job.  While I understand there is a need for confidentiality around the names of candidates, I do not think that parents and the community should be left in the dark about the search process.  We should be updated about the search at every BOE Meeting, even if there is no new news to share. 

Norwalk is suffering from a serious leadership vacuum.  Key positions throughout Central Office are interim, unfilled, brand new or ready for retirement.   And while we wait for our new leader, important decisions are being delayed and not receiving adequate attention.  Norwalk's inability to sign onto the Race to the Top application put together by the state (although 100 districts statewide signed on, including all the districts "in need of improvement") is an example of this.  

Norwalk needs a strong Board during this period of transition.  While we can defer many decisions, we cannot defer all of them.  

Some of the questions I've emailed to the superintendent and board chair include:

• Have you begun the interview process?
• Who is interviewing the candidates? 
• Is there a possibility to include parents or teachers in the interview process?  Could be done with the use of a confidentiality agreement?
• How will the references and site visits be handled?
• Do you have a list of questions for candidates that you can share with the public?
• Is there a possibility of bringing finalists in front of the community?

Regarding the Interim Superintendent:

• When is Dr. Papallo's last day?
• Are plans underway to hire another interim superintendent?  For how long

I hope some of these questions are answered tonight.  Feel free to post your own questions about the search in the comments section.  Maybe some the board members will be reading this post.

11910 BOE Agenda