Citizen participation crucial in selection of superintendent

The saying, “If you don’t vote, you have no right to complain,” can, with a little modification, be applied to the search for a new superintendent of the Warren City School District and the role of the residents: “If you don’t participate in the public sessions and offer your input, you have no right to complain about the decision that’s made.”

Today, from 11 to 11:45 a.m. at the school administration building and from 5 to 5:45 p.m. in the Warren G. Harding High School Cafetorium, members of the school board and Kendall Lee, a search consultant from the Ohio School Board Association, will seek the public’s help in developing a profile of the “ideal candidate” for superintendent.

This is an opportunity for the stakeholders of the system to be involved from the very beginning in the search for a successor to Dr. Kathryn Hellweg, who left earlier this year after about six years.

Hellweg’s departure was shrouded in controversy because she was given a $101,000 separation check. Her contract was to expire in July, which means she walked away with a six-figure payment for not working. The board shelled out $55,000 to buy out the last five months of her contract, and gave her another $46,000 in separation pay and unused vacation.

The Warren city school system has been in academic watch for some time, an indication that the academic performance of its students in the state proficiency tests is not only substandard, but is just one ranking above the worst, academic emergency. As is the case in Youngstown, academic emergency triggers the appointment of a state-mandated commission to oversee the recovery of the district.

Academic future

Warren’s search for a new superintendent must, out of necessity, center on the issue of the district’s academic future. That’s because Republican Gov. John Kasich and the Republican controlled General Assembly have made it clear that failing public schools in Ohio will not be permitted to exist indefinitely and that parents must have options, such as placing their children in charter and parochial schools.

There are two questions attendees at today’s sessions are asked to consider: What are the major issues, challenges and opportunities facing the district over the next three to five years? What personal characteristics are essential for the next superintendent?

And, considering the controversy surrounding Superintendent Hellweg’s departure, residents should also be given the opportunity to have a say about the board’s decision not to fire her if they believed she was not doing her job.

Indeed, if Hellweg’s performance as superintendent did not justify getting rid of her immediately, why not insist that she serve out her contract?

We raise that question because the system can ill afford to keep buying out the contracts of individuals who don’t live up to expectation.

This is a crucial time for the Warren City School District, and the decision on hiring a new superintendent will be one of the most important that will be made.