Time For New Leadership

In The Schools

To the Editor:

It has become increasingly distressing to read the negative stories in this newspaper week after week that relate to our school system. Our high school is in jeopardy of not attaining accreditation; students are regularly being arrested for drugs; many school buildings have serious maintenance problems; concerns about bullying have persisted for months with no satisfactory resolution; excessive increases in school budgets are causing numerous defeats at the polls; and now a school board member has been cited by the police for providing alcohol to more than 100 underage students at a post-prom party. This last incident has been compounded by testimony from a parent who stated that she warned school officials in advance that such a party was being planned, where alcohol would be present, and the school personnel did nothing to prevent it or warn other parents.

I believe it is time for the school board chairperson to step down. She has held this position for too many years and there is an obvious lack of leadership on her part. The BOE member who committed the egregious mistake of hosting an alcohol party for teenagers has resigned and the person who is supposed to inspire and lead her fellow members should do the same as chairperson.

This is an opportune time to infuse fresh new leadership in our schools. The current superintendent is leaving and will be replaced soon. We have recently hired a new assistant superintendent. Another school board member will have to be appointed to replace the one who has resigned in disgrace. What is needed now is fresh leadership on the BOE so that we can get our once great school system back on track. The problems facing our schools are not unsolvable, but the process must begin with the removal of internal politics from the BOE and the appointment of someone with the leadership and managerial skills required to make this happen. This is a wake-up call for the Board of Education!

George Caracciolo

Schoolhouse Hill Road, Newtown                                    May 14, 2007