Board members’ views vary on Webb’s fate if schools don’t improve

By Harold Gwin

YOUNGSTOWN — If the city school district doesn’t show considerable academic improvement on its 2010 state local report card, it will be time to change the district’s leadership, some school board members say.

The board, in late November, completed its annual evaluation of Superintendent Wendy Webb and cautioned that the state designation of “academic emergency” that Youngstown earned this year “is unacceptable, and considerable strides toward an improved designation must be made.”

Some board members have since said Webb’s job is on the line.

If no improvement is seen, the superintendent should resign, or the board should terminate her, said Dominic Modarelli, who is leaving the board with the end of this year.

Youngstown was rated as the worst academic district in the state this year, and there is a need to act quickly to correct that, he said.

“We owe that to the children and the community of Youngstown city schools,” Modarelli said, adding that the responsibility “starts at the top.”

Board member Michael Murphy said the new strategic academic plan being proposed by Webb looks good. But, if the goals aren’t met, “We have to terminate her,” he said, adding, “It’s gone on too long.”

Webb was named superintendent in 2004, and her current contract doesn’t expire until Aug. 1, 2011.

She has declined to comment on the board’s evaluation, saying that she has a single focus, and that is student achievement.

Newly elected member Rachel Hanni, who wasn’t able to participate in the evaluation process, said that it is hoped the district’s academic rating will improve and the question on the superintendent’s job will be moot. However, if things don’t improve, the board will have to look at replacing her, Hanni said.

Other board members were less definitive on what might happen.

Longtime member Lock P. Beachum Sr. said very strong steps will have to be taken if academics don’t improve.

He declined to elaborate on just what that might mean for the superintendent but said she is aware of what is at stake.

“Somebody has to be accountable,” said member June Drennen, who recently was appointed to fill a board vacancy.

“I’m not saying anyone’s job is at stake, but somebody’s job is always at stake,” she said.

Board member Richard Atkinson said there’s been no board discussion about the superintendent’s future.

“It’s time to come together,” he said, adding, “I’m pretty positive things are turning around.”

Everyone is working hard to improve academic performance, he said.

Anthony Catale, board president, was noncommittal on the superintendent’s future.

He said Webb has given the board the academic targets she expects the district to meet this school year, and the board will look at the 2010 report card and see how the district stacks up.

“We’ll start there,” he said.

Jacqueline Taylor, who also is leaving the board this year, declined to comment on the superintendent’s future.

That’s a personnel issue and shouldn’t be part of any public debate, she said.

Taylor said she wants to see academic improvement and pointed out that district personnel and the board have been working as a team to see that it happens.

Newly elected board member Andrea Mahone, who also was unable to participate in the evaluation process, couldn’t be reached to comment.

gwin@vindy.com