One of the most important duties of a school board is the selection of a superintendent. After the sudden passing of Superintendent Jacqueline C. Haas, the Harford County Board of Education appointed an interim superintendent and has now hired the Maryland Association of Boards of Education to assist them in a nation-wide search to be concluded no later than July 1, 2009. But there’s plenty of interest in the job right here at home.
Probably not from Executive Director of Elementary Education Pat Skebeck, who got the job of interim superintendent in the days after Haas’ untimely death. Skebeck is nearing retirement and not a likely candidate.
But sources say several members of the senior staff are interested in the permanent post, which should make the next six months interesting. Especially in light of budget cuts, secondary school reform, redistricting and the controversy surrounding Campus Hills Elementary School.
In time, we’ll see who ends up with one of the highest paid public jobs in the state, managing a system of nearly 40,000 students, with a combined budget exceeding half a billion dollars. More importantly, we will see whether or not the school board makes the right decision for Harford County Public Schools. That can be tricky, as the school board well knows.
Remember the short but not-so-sweet tenure of Jeff Grotsky who was such a poor fit for Harford County, the Board bought out Grotsky’s contract after just 18 months. Grotsky quickly got another job in Baltimore, but pocketed six figures on his way out the door. Nice work for Grotsky. Not so much for the taxpayers.
Of course the school board will try to make the best selection possible. But insulating board members from the voters is not the way to ensure they are accountable for their decisions either way. Now more than ever, we have a reminder of the important work of the Harford County Board of Education and why its members should be elected by the public they serve.
What qualities should the school board look for in a superintendent? The public ought to have a say, so let’s hear your comments Dagger readers.
Many years ago, as a poor college student, I worked a part-time job at the Harford County Public Schools Warehouse. My time lasted well into Haas occupation of the Superintendent space, but my most vivid memories are of the man she replaced. A man whose name is probably barely remembered by the current Board, but whose half-baked legacy is like as not still snickered at on the ground level of the School system. Jeffrey Grotsky. He was ported in from the outside to clean things up and offer a fresh perspective, but in 1997 when I came along, his “fresh” had quickly rotted and the remains were dripping all over the county’s education system.
From my perspective at the warehouse, Grotsky was a nightmare of incompetency. One of the big jobs we did then was shipping learning materials, testbooks, etc. out to the schools. The Print Shop in those days was located in the same building as the warehouse. They printed out all the school resource materials. Anything that wasn’t a MSPAP test booklet was produced there. When I showed up, partway through the reign of Grotsky, things were a giant bottleneck, with printed materials laying abandoned and forgotten on crates, and the morale of the warehouse employees was so low that I felt like I was working with the lifers from The Shawshank Redemption. All of the productivity brought to a crushing standstill because of one little Grotsky imposed program: QUALITY TRAINING. Seriously, if you were to mention this twisted abortion of corporate ingenuity modified for small-town scholastic success to anyone who might remember it these days, I wouldn’t be surprised if they sucker punched you and then gave you a swirlie.
Quality training’s goal was the same as any number of similar programs utilized by big businesses. Help motivate your employees, foster cooperation and understanding between groups and people, and create a work environment that optimizes the quality and quantity of work output. In a place with a bunch of cubicle jockeys and small teams of people, ok, it can work. But try and layer that idea onto the school system, and force the cooperation of everyone from the Purchasing supervisor down to the school cafeteria lady to be involved, and suddenly you have created a nightmare that starts shutting down productivity.
Entire in-service days were held at schools, so staff could break into teams and learn how to “keep the fish-head on the bone” and other colorful games of faux cooperation. Instead of bringing people in from the outside to design and implement this endeavor, QT was being spear-headed and implemented by all of the people it was being provided for. And at the heart of QT was not a talented speaker or a set of videos but a hastily produced and poorly constructed paper-based campaign. Most of it was no more than self-aggrandizing piffle. Our favorite bit of Quality memorabilia was a Post-it Note style pad with different sayings at the top entitled “Quality Moments”. Each moment would be something as generic as “Good enough is not good enough.”(that’s a real example). The printshop guys were asked to make this stuff a print priority. So, wanting to schmooze up to the superintendent, and to be fair, do their jobs, they put every other thing on hold. This actually caused a halting of school testing with entire curriculum schedules halted because they were never printed in favor or Grotsky’s Quality Training. He would regularly show up down at the warehouse to check in on his mutant baby and see how if it was still responding to the life support. There are several interior rumors about why he was shuffled off, but it seems clear that part of it was he was a massive money-waster and many of his programs were drawing questions from people who don’t ask questions if things are running normally.
Starting on the day after Grotsky was removed, in an effort to terrorize the prestigous printshop staff, who had just lost their meal ticket and golden calf all in one fell swoop, we started a “Quality Moment Service Announcement” over the loudspeaker that went throughout the entire building. Each day we would dedicate it to the loving memory of Jeffrey Grotsky, and then read one of the useless statements. Eventually we ran out of wisdom like “Every job paints a picture. Take pride in your self-portrait” replaced them with nuggets like “Never surrender, never retreat.” As for Grotsky, no need to worry. From what I hear, he was handed a nice package to leave, and managed to roll-over his failure at HCPS into a lucrative gig in another county. Good on him.
If drafted, I will not run; if nominated, I will not accept; if elected, I will not serve.
Oh, that’s right. I forgot. Elections and HCPS don’t mix.
I would like to see a candidate who is “invested” in Harford County. This county has the attributes of a close knit community with the influence of outside and transplanted workers. We moved to Harford county in the late 90’s and were concerned with the hiring and subsequent firing of Grotsky The school board turned to “one of their own” to handle the transition and a true leader was found.
As the search begins for a talented leader in the field of education, please remember that talent does not always mean from the “outside”. Be sure to include members of our community; teachers, business owners, and parents for input. Often, our most talented leaders are ones who avail themselves to the best education and training but move back “home” to give back to their community. Look beyond the excellent schooling and job experience and find out what makes the candidate want to work in the education field and why they made the decisions they did.
Our family has raised 3 children in the HCPS with very good results. Although we may not have always agreed with decisions made by the Superidendent, we never doubted her committment to the education of Harford County’s children.
I agree with Conszeb, we need someone who is invested in this community. Maybe even someone who has a child in the school system. Someone who would also have the perspective(and fustrations) of a parent, feedback from their child and their childs teachers as to how the system is working(or not). We all know that how things look on paper and how they work in real life are not always the same.
We can all say what we would like and how it should be done, but untill we have an elected school board it it all just talk! Again a big chunk of our tax money is being used with the people of Harford Co. having no say. That is just not right!!
Setting up the interviews……….
In the Bd of Eds and hopefully (joint or separate) citizen committee member interviews for all the candates there are some important questions to start with about managing our schools. There are current and recurring questions the “winner” will face.
Assuming you, the candate, still want the job, it is because you got this far based on the valid on paper credentials and corraborated background checking. Roman’s and coontrymen put yourself in the candates seat and start by answering these 10 questions and see how parochial (this is the way we’ve always done it so don’t rock out boat in Harford County) you are or how open to a new slant and some change with some new horizons and different viewpoints you are or come away with after answering the philosopjical and practical aspects of these considerations for board members.
At the least the interviewers should be able to document to the rest of us non-voting constituents the answers of the winner and what they said and how that figured in the hiring decision.
1. Are you (Mr/Ms) candiate willing to do away with the block schedule at the HS level if it is not in best interest of students? What dinds of schedules have you used in your past assignments? What is your position on scheduling systems for high school stunents now?
2. Are you open to starting the HS day later based on the (mountains of) data supporting this approach? (start all 3 levels later or start middle school early in place of HS?) What is your position on this issue?
3. Are you open to create lessons learned committees that look into the above two issues and others like the mistakes in the building programs at N. Harford, Aberdeen, Patterson Mill et. al (siting of the two new elementtary schools in and out of the development envelope)? (Hint: the hoped for answer should be somethng like – – it is good to document and leave a legacy for future superintendents to not make same mistakes – a primer for those who follow and to alter what can be modified and improved to make the larger mistakes less extreme on daily functionality for teachers, students and parents.) What is your experience in using lessons learned committees?
4. What is your approach to keeping or changing the current senior staff that you will initially inherit? What criteria will you use to evaluate them? The number of at will appointments that you can shuffle or relieve of duties is _____ ?
5. How open are you to combining the school system facilities department with the county facilities and grounds and parks and recreation departments? Describe your facilites experience as related to organizational and management with respect this issue and others you would like to cite.
6. A recurring issue in the county is the lack/limit of athletic trainers adequately available for sports teams? What is your position and experience on trainers available for school student athletes?
7. What level of autonomy do you intend to give/think is proper for delegaton to principals? Do you think they should have the authority to run pilot programs without approval by the central office?
8. Do you think you should be the secretary to the board of education (as is current practice)? Why do you take the postion you have just stated?
9. In the systems you have worked in, have they been appointed or elected school baord systems? As it is an issue in the county and state wWhich approach do you prefer to wolrk in? Which approach do you think is best for separation of powers and duties for running a responsive school system?
10. What systems of accountability would you impliment to manage the school system for daily business such as parent and PTA questions/concerns about issues going unresolved? What management and accountability system(s), for example centralized or decentralized, do you favor for ongoing relations with internal (principals, HQ senior staff) and external constituencies/groups (County Council, PTA’s, media, state Dept of ED, etc) and responsiveness to state and county audits and national accreditation bodies?
And the questions should get harder after #10. (no I didn’t graduate in Harford County so relax and the spelling is without spell check on this site)
Way to go, Joe. Great questions. It would be great to find someone who has worked in an area with a progressive education system–even Maryland’s other counties.
We have way too many people around who recite the party line about how great HCPS are. Harford County schools are average. As time goes on, Harford County will need more and more people who have strong backgrounds in science, technology, and math.
Today’s Aegis quoted a school board member commenting on Dr. Haas’s commitment to gifted education. THERE IS NO GIFTED PROGRAM in Harford County. What does that say about a school system with 40,000 students? What does that say for the member of the school board? The good news for Harford County is that more and more of the top kids’ parents are pulling them out of these public schools, so there probably is no need for services.
The next superintendent needs to address the needs of those talented students who will become our next generation of scientists, mathematicians, engineers, and others who will need top-level skills and educations. Dr. Haas was a fine person, but her priorities were at the elementary and special education levels. If we want to prepare a workforce, our schools need forward thinking leaders with high aspirations for our students.
I think all the posts so far make critical points. This by no means is a simple black and white position to fill, the job is far more complex than this. However at the end of the day one needs to examine the objectives of a public school education and ask oneself what is HCPS doing well to help achieve these objectives, what is it NOT doing well, and then what can it do better?? There is always room for improvement and complacency should never be tolerated.
Another comment in yesterday’s (1/14/09) Aegis implied that the school system does a good job helping the kids at the top ( gifted…maybe on the elementary level, kids get pulled out…), and the kids at the opposite end of the spectrum
(the ones struggling). (I am not sure who said it…maybe a board member.)
I would argue both these populations are a smaller % when compared to the all the kids in the middle of the pack-these students all get grouped and are largely overlooked. In this middle group there may be gifted kids who are bored so they perform to minimal expectations. All levels of student abilities need focus, continual support and challenge. We should expect the best from every student, regardless of where they are on the spectrum. Expecting more may get us more!
Judy makes a valuable point if the public school system can’t address needs of the talented…then as a whole we all lose.
Parents and educators have valuable insight about HCPS, lets hope these comments merit some pondering prior to hiring our new superintendent. I am afraid too many will be riding on the laurels of MD being named #1 public school system in the country. We still have a ways to go.
It will be very interesting to see who from HCPS is operating behind the scenes and intends to put in their name in the hat. I would be concerned at someone being selected that would just go with the current flow and not be able to really evaluate the changes and see if they are working and then the big step of making due changes. If you are within the school system, then you were part of the system of change and you tend to not want to admit mistakes. Looking back, think of the CSSRP report and outside recommendations. Was much done or really talked about from that report? It certainly should of been. Was some of the data possibly used to make things look like they are getting better, when in reality they are staying the same or maybe even a tad worse. A new superintendant from within the HCPS isn’t going to ask the tough questions about that report.
I know as I parent, I sure wonder why only 17% of the administrators, supervisors, principals, students and teachers feel that LICW is a worthwhile class. Why should my child have to take that class if all of those people feel that way. What was done to reform the class? They made it official as to adding a different book (Inventing Eliot) than the Chocolate War (which can still be read).
I really think the BOE needs to find someone from outside the county for this important post. They need to find someone who will ask and evaluate rather than the “good old boy network.” It would be good to bring new ideas to HCPS. The key is that the BOE needs to know that they represents the citizens, the taxpayers, and it is ok to be free thinkers at this point rather than just rubber stamping what people in HCPS tells them to do.
I also think parents need to get out and be active so the BOE know how you feel about these issues as it has gotten quite since all the sudden budget cuts ends the meetings with uniforms. Become active and take a look at the CSSRP report and what recommendations are suggested.
I posted the above in the wrong section yesterday, my bad, I didn’t see this article.
I think we want to hire someone who is outside of Harford County because we don’t want someone who is currently tied to all of the changes we have undergone because it will be status quo and we won’t get true, honest and fair evaluation of our system. I feel that right now, all of the changes are rammed down the throats of principals, teachers and students because that is what the higher ups want, end of story. There is no consideration as to whether it is truly the best thing for the students or the unique population.
I also feel that the BOE is simply afraid to use their power to question and make changes or make HCPS prove things. It truly seemed that whatever Jackie or HCPS said, was taken as a fact from God. At that point, why do we have a BOE? I went to Board meetings and if I couldn’t go, I always watched them on TV. I saw statistics being used in ways that showed all of these positive ways, yet no one simply asked the tough question (which would of shown that there were less test takers or why were there less test takers? Less people getting eligibility but why were those athletes on the field (Principals gave out eligibility so why have 1 E zeero tolerance)
I want someone who will critically look at the CSSRP report and ask why? Someone who will truly ask if 90 minute schedule is the best and be honest? If changes need to be made, then work to do it.
I always mention this report because it just amazes me how well the Board has hidden all of the problems it shows. I know they have responded with positive stats, etc. Ultimately, parents need to be active in this and get vocal.
Joe, you are right on. Here are my thoughts, sorry if it’s a little long.
The next superintendent should:
1. Not be a current employee of HCPS, and preferably come from outside Maryland.
2. Be willing to work for the national average salary of Superintendents, $134,00. Jackie Haas’ salary was ridiculously high.
3. Be knowledgeable about the current best practices in education. Block Scheduling, Chicago Math, and everyday math were dying trends when they were implemented here. What did other districts know that HCPS didn’t?
4. Be willing to challenge the entrenched bureaucracy. The guy who implemented CSSRP shouldn’t be the one to evaluate it. I never get to write my performance appraisals, why should he.
5. Take a sharp pencil to the budget. What do all those people in central office do? How is it our school population is going down, but there are more people in central office. I think only Baltimore City has a higher ratio of administrators to students. We need someone to do what Andres Alonzo did in Baltimore City, send some of those administrators back to the classrooms.
6. Support an Elected School Board. OK I’m dreaming here. How about making HCPS more answerable to the taxpayers and involving parents in more of the decisions. I’ve lived in school districts where parent volunteers drew up new school boundaries, and helped evaluate new curriculums. Guess what, everyone was happy, and the bureaucracy was much smaller.
7. Implement a true gifted program for K-12. Judy’s right, HCPS does not have gifted education. It has “enrichment” for a few (handpicked) students at the elementary level. This is a topic for a whole other thread! Yes, this is a small population, probably 10-15% of the students. But Percentage-wise, that’s the size of the special ed population.
8. Be willing to address how HCPS is going to respond to BRAC. Going to the state for more money is not going to be the answer.
9. Realize that good is the enemy of great. HCPS is a “Good” school system. It has some work to do to get to “Great.” IF Ft. Monmouth schools really are 5th in the nation (reported in yesterday’s Sun), HCPS has a lot of work to do, but the BRAC folks will bring a lot of great ideas with them, if anyone will listen.
10. Read “Dagger” because that’s where all the good ideas are!
I agree with much of what was said by people already. In response to #5 by Margaret, I have a question for HCPS and the BOE.
If you look at the letterhead of schools, there is a list of principals and vice principals. By the way, what do they do when the move people around every year with that wasted stationary?? They also list the “Instructional Facilitator” and “Teacher Mentor.” Not listed are the Curriculum Supervisors who are housed in the main administrative building but all of those people are administrative. Those positions have been added over the years and people who worked in the classroom were taken out to be administrators. HCPS likes to say they are not top heavy and hide those employees so it appears they aren’t “Administrative.” I have yet to meet a teacher who thinks that these people are necessary. They can see some valildity in a few of the individuals who are really good at their jobs but for the most part, they find them to be a waste of money.
Let’s not forget either that we have had “outsiders” come in and try and give the school system advice and counsel which they refuse to listen to. Where is the CSSRP data?? Looking back at a comment from one of the researchers is this quote: “The majority of teachers indicated that they were covering less content than they previously covered” and that because of the block schedule teachers said they lost more than 1,000 minutes of annual instruction time per course!! So we sacrificied having math, science and foreign language everyday to have Living in a Contemporary World and the school system is fine with it even though it is not helping the students. Additionally there was this statement from Michael HIckey: “A significant number of stakeholders perceived the process as a CLOSED one with pre-determined outcomes, regardless of the input that was received. Whether this is true or not, the fact that the perception is so widely held across the stakeholder groups – particularly the TEACHERS – speaks to a credibility gap.” This survey has basically been shelved by everyone involved in commissioning it and a new superintendent needs to examine its findings.
I am sure there are plenty of excellent candidates in the school system but because of the entrenched “group think” that has permeated HCPS for the past several years, it may be in the best interest of the county to find someone with a different perspective. Additionally we need someone who doesn’t have a history or relationship with people that would preclude them from making objective decisions about student achievement and educational practices.
I just hope the BOE doesn’t spend $13,000 to get outside help to find a superintendent and end up with someone who is an “insider.” There is no one on that Board who was recently an educator and it is worrisome that they are insecure about their abilties to make judgments about educational decisions because they depended so heavily on Dr. Haas. Who are they listening to now??
Here’s a link to the press release from HCPS announcing two meetings to gather community input on the search for a new superintendent. The meetings are:
Tuesday, January 27th at Fallston HS 7:30 – 8:30PM
Wednesday, January 28th at Havre de Grace HS 7:30 – 8:30PM
I hope people will attend but for anyone who can’t make it, I plan to submit the comments made here on The Dagger to MABE, which is hosting these meetings.
http://www.hcps.org/departments/docs/publicinformation/publications/pressreleases/2009/superintendentsearchrelease1-16-08.pdf
Thanks for the info Cindy. Is MABE the ones who are running the search? Is there a local committee that will do th final interviews and make recommendations? There doesn’t seem to be any info on the HCPS website about how this will work.
I have seen they have times and dates for teachers to come and share their thoughts but if you ask me, the teachers are screwed with this and I will tell you why. They want the teachers to go to headquarters and speak freely in what they want in a Superintendent. This “free” talk will ultimately lead to school isssues. So, if you go and speak “freely” and say I think the 90 minute block schedule is not good for kids, that LICW is a wasted class, and having kids selecting a carrer pathway at the end of their middle school carreer is crazy. I am basically letting them know I want a Superintendent that is willing to:
1. Assess and be willing to change some of the changes completed by
the “higher ups” at the administration building.
2. View the CSRRP report and truly look at what it says and what the outside
companies recommendations were.
3. Is not a afraid to be a free-thinker and make changes
4. Evaluates other counties who have had a block schedule and why they left
block schedule
5. Truly looks at the research behind these changes as it hasn’t been shown to
the teachers in a way to support or convince them, rather it has been
stated, “Reseach shows…….) What research??
6. Is the block good for Special Education Students? What about Gifted
students? Can it be used for certain classes that need that time?
In the end, all of those people that are the “higher ups” know Joe Blow doesn’t support what is going on currently and probably hasn’t before. In Harford County, those teachers lives could be made difficult and they could be blackballed, questioned, given the worst possible duties at school, etc.
That is truly a concern I see with this! When the CSRRP report was done, it was an outside group with NO affilition with HCPS that asked these questions, you were anonymous and knew there would be no possible retribution from anyone in the county.
Many of you may say that RendandStimpy is paronoid, but I think teachers reading this would agree that this is a true fear when honestly speaking how you feel about decisions about HCPS. The new superintendent cannot come in without and lead without looking at all of the new changes.
I do wonder this, where does the Union stand on this?? Have they spoken and communicated to their members? Should they send out information and ask them to rate characteristics they want in a Superintendent? Or what issues should the BOE look at? Or where does the membership of the Union stand on issues and then take an active role in this process since then the actual teachers are protected. It would be great to see them be more “agressive or active” as this is the opportunity for corrections to be made.
Any other teachers feel this way? Thoughts comments? What are the biggest issues facing high schools in regards to the changes over the last 3-5 years?? This is the chance to have them addressed BUT we need to get to the BOE and flood them with our thoughts and ideas due to them being the ultimate power brokers in this process.
RenandStimpy–grand idea about the union asking teachers what they would like. The union could do an anonymous survey and ask for input. That way teachers are heard but not seen. No retribution.
Kids who are very good students don’t seem to mind the block schedule–musicians love it. Unfortunately, most students don’t fit into those categories. The biggest problem for a teacher is keeping students engaged for 80+ minutes. It isn’t easy when you have 25 to 30 students in a classroom because even if one or two of them are bouncing off the wall, it is difficult to manage. Keep in mind that half of HCPS teachers have less than five years of experience (that figure may be a couple of years old), and the less classroom experience a teacher has, the more challenging classroom management is.
My hope for the new supt. is that he or she does not think that HCPS are wonderful and don’t need to improve. That is the danger of hiring from within.
Just got a robo-call from HCPS. Despite the weather, the Superintendent Search community input meeting is still on for tonight at Fallston HS, 7:30 – 8:30PM. The format is going to be small focus groups answering 3 questions, which can also be answered online at http://hcps.org/boe/HotTopics/StakeholderInput.aspx
The form will need to be cut and pasted into e-mail. It needs to be returned–to Annapolis by the 29th.
Wow, what earth shattering and profound questions. So, they paid consultants for this. I have a 4th How about “What should be the Superintendents, favorite color? Very disappointing. Did anyone go last night?
After seeing the questions on the survey, I figured it was a waste of time and gas to drive to Fallston. In Sunday’s Examiner, Harford Co. made the top 10 Best Ideas for hosting these surveys. My guess is they didn’t see the questions that were going to be asked. Given the weather conditions, I was surprised they still had the meeting. But have a good turn out clearly wasn’t important.
I can see why the taxes need to be so high in Maryland. Hiring a firm of the quality of Mabe is really expensive. My God I can’t imagine what absolute genius it must take to generate such a comprehensive survey. I would only have added one or two more narrative questions, such as: how much lint did yo find in your belly button while thinking about these questions? How many days would you like to see given over to additional questions? How many angels did you count on the head of your pin? There may be a few more, but only the true genius of a highly paid consultant can possibly dream them up.
By the way, a consultant is someone who has to travel a great distance to give you the answers you wanted, and will be able to tell you exactly how to make love, while still being a virgin. Bottom line we got screwed.
I am so angry that they held the meeting when they went and cancelled all afternoon and evening activities within the county. A normal individual with kids would assume that the meeting was closed, regardless of any announcement, phone call or e-mail.
This is an underhanded way to hold a meeting for supposed stakeholders, yet they knew attendance would be subpar at best. This know allows them to tell the community that they had a voice in the decision although it had closed schools and we were supposed to get ice and snow. This shows how much they value the citizens, parents, and teachers opinions who planned to go to the meeting but valued their safety.
Shame on the HCPS, there is no excuse for your decision! Shame on MABE! Talk about losing respect for people and out interim Superintendent!