EDITORIAL

Fast track to a superintendent

Posted 9/10/15

Interim superintendent William Holland has put the School Committee on a fast track to name a new superintendent … and that’s a good thing.

On Tuesday the committee released the names of the …

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EDITORIAL

Fast track to a superintendent

Posted

Interim superintendent William Holland has put the School Committee on a fast track to name a new superintendent … and that’s a good thing.

On Tuesday the committee released the names of the two finalists for the job: Lori B. McEwen, chief of instruction, leadership and equity for the Providence School Department, and Phil Thornton, superintendent of schools in Cumberland. Holland is happy with both candidates, and while they would bring different experiences to the Warwick job, he says either would do the job.

Now, Holland and the committee are looking to hear from the public. That opportunity is coming up as soon as next Tuesday for the first of two public forums to be held at Toll Gate High School.

On Sept. 15, McEwen will meet with school administrators, meet with the mayor and other city officials and visit several schools. Then at 6 p.m., she will answer questions at the forum that will last an hour to an hour and a half. This will be followed by an executive session of the committee. Basically, the same format will be used the following day when Thornton is introduced to key people in the city and schools to be followed by a 6 p.m. forum at Toll Gate.

Under Holland’s schedule, the school committee could meet as soon as next Friday to make a decision and present an offer to the candidate of choice.

Some might ask, what’s the rush? After all we’re talking about the person who will lead Warwick schools for at least the next three years.

The answer should be apparent after years of postponing decisions – the consolidation of schools and redistricting of the system being the most obvious. The Warwick system needs a leader who can navigate change while moving the system forward. This is not easy, especially since as a community we are looking to equip our young people with the tools to become productive members of society.

Conceivably, and hopefully this isn’t the case, neither of the candidates will find Warwick a good fit. Or, maybe, after the forums, neither will resonate with the community or the school committee.

That’s one reason for pushing ahead. If the search process is to be restarted, then we should do that right away. Likewise, if we have the right candidate, then we can’t afford to tarry.

With the closing of Aldrich and Gorton Junior Highs and Vets High at the end of the current academic year, the system must be prepared for the transition. In addition, the new superintendent will need to craft an agreement with the Warwick Teachers Union that provides the district the flexibility to meet this challenge.

Finally, we would urge the public and the committee to focus on the best fit for Warwick, not the dollars of a contract. Reaching an agreement is expected to take an increase in the $170,000 paid to the former superintendent.

Within reason, that should not become the stumbling block.

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