Give Supt. Hathorn a chance to implement plan for schools

Give Supt. Hathorn a chance to implement plan for schools

I am deeply troubled by the recent demand of the Youngstown NAACP to remove Youngstown Superintendent Dr. Connie Hathorn and Deputy Superintendent Douglas Hiscox for numerous reasons. First and foremost, where were the members of this group demanding results when the district entered both fiscal and academic emergencies under the previous administration? In fact, they continuously rallied in favor of support for the previous superintendent even when report card indicators were at an all-time low, enrollment was eroding quickly, student discipline was out of control, and the district was faced with a $42 million deficit.

When Dr. Hathorn took over, he was faced with a school district that was just becoming financially stable but was at the very unacceptable bottom in academic achievement. Reasons for that included a weak administration, children coming to school from a home culture that doesn’t value education, students being shifted from school to school, teachers also being shifted, students coming and going to and from failing charter schools, among many other factors. There had been very little sense of community and pride, very little emphasis on setting high expectations across the district.

Moreover, a plethora of research concludes that in any improvement plan, there must be a few overarching goals with measurable targets over a three- to five- year period. However, every year since he has been superintendent, Dr. Hathorn has been faced with either new school board members or academic commission members and chairs. This has created chaos as some of the pseudo educational experts on the board of education, have tried to undermine the superintendent through their own micromanagement.

Since his term as superintendent began, Dr. Hathorn, his administration, faculty, and students have been set up for failure. This past year, a new plan was adopted by the academic commission and approved by State Superintendent Ross. It is now time for stakeholders to ensure that teachers and administrators are equipped with all necessary resources to succeed in implementing the plan. That plan also needs to be sustained and analyzed to measure growth over the next three to five years.

Finally, if the NAACP and others truly want to help, they need to support the current administration by working with parents to change the culture in the homes of many of the students.

This is not a race issue; this a socio-economic issue that Youngstown residents and leaders need to work together harmoniously to overcome for the future of the city and surrounding communities — as that future rests on the shoulders of educating our youth.

Anthony J. Catale, Youngstown

Catale is a former member of the Youngstown Board of Education.