Evaluations sought for officials

By Harold Gwin

The board never did a superintendent’s evaluation in 2006, but did one in 2007.

YOUNGSTOWN — The chairman of the city school board’s personnel committee wants the district’s superintendent and treasurer to undergo biannual job evaluations.

Anthony Catale said Tuesday that his research has shown that most districts he’s contacted do biannual examinations of performance. Youngstown appears to be one of very few doing only annual evaluations of its two top administrative posts, he said.

“They are big positions hired by the board, and we want to be sure we have the most effective people,” he said.

Having a second evaluation at midyear can be an effective tool to relate where board members think the district’s emphasis should be, he said, adding that it would ensure a good, solid connection between the board and administrators.

Catale’s plan would have the full board do an annual evaluation each fall, setting goals and rating the superintendent and treasurer on their performance, completing that work in October. A board committee, perhaps the personnel committee, could handle the midyear checkup to determine if the goals are being met, he said.

Catale said he will present his plan to his full committee June 3. If the members find it acceptable, it will then go to the full board.

He said he would like to see the change implemented in the next school year.

Both Superintendent Wendy Webb and Treasurer William Johnson said they have no problem with the biannual approach.

“I would welcome input. You need direction,” Webb said, adding, “I relish the feedback.”

“I embrace it as well,” Johnson said, pointing out that district goals can change quickly, and having evaluations done twice a year can allow administrators to adjust more quickly.

Getting the superintendent’s evaluation done in a timely fashion has been a problem.

Webb’s contract calls for an annual evaluation, but the board didn’t get the task done in fall 2006, resulting in Webb’s contract, which was to expire June 30, 2007, to automatically roll over for an additional year, with her salary remaining at $122,500 annually. Some board members were openly critical of the delay, saying it should have been a priority.

The evaluation was done in November 2007, and the board immediately granted Webb a new three-year contract that doesn’t begin until Aug. 1 of this year. Her annual salary will remain at $122,500 for the duration of that agreement.

gwin@vindy.com