The NB School Board is Appointing a New Superintendent Monday?
An announcement dated May 2 on the District of New Berlin Web site says Dr. Kreutzer submitted his resignation effective on June 30, 2011 and will continue to serve as Superintendent until that date. It also states, “The school board is finalizing a succession plan for the position of the superintendent. A transition plan is being finalized that will take advantage of Dr. Kreutzer’s remaining time of service.” See my previous blog post.
On Monday’s (May 9) New Berlin School Board Meeting Agenda:
Approval of resignation of Superintendent
Approval of appointment of New Superintendent
Wait a minute! A new Superintendent will be appointed on Monday?
Who?
And why such haste and secrecy?
What is the “succession plan”? When did the Board develop and discuss it? What process is actually being used to replace Dr. Kreutzer? Why has the School Board purposely concealed this information? How are they choosing the best person for the position? Has any national, statewide or regional search been done to get a pool of qualified superintendent candidates to pick from? Has the position been posted and advertised? Have any interviews been done? If so, who was interviewed and who conducted the interviews? Was anyone other than the School Board been involved in the interview/ selection process? Why didn’t the School Board seek community involvement?
When did the School Board know Dr. Kreutzer was seeking superintendent employment outside the District and when did it start planning to replace him?
There has been a remarkable lack of transparency. A betrayal of public trust.
At one time or another, Board President John Kegel and the other school board members have expressed support for involving stakeholders/ community in the board’s decision process. They gave the impression such involvement was deemed important.
Indeed, the School Board has conveyed that it was vital to get community input regarding the fate of one school (whether Glen Park Elementary School will be renovated or closed).
But then these Board members turn around and make plans to appoint a person to run all the schools but without seeking or welcoming community input? That seems a betrayal of the values they claimed to hold.
The School Board has provided minimal information regarding replacing the superintendent and have shut out the community. Our School Board members think parents, staff, and district residents do not deserve to know what they are plotting? It seems this School Board is determined to impose their will by taking swift action while keeping us in the dark as much as possible. That ensures little or no opportunity for public comment/scrutiny or opposition prior to board action Monday night.
Every member of the New Berlin School Board was supported by the group New Berlin Citizens for Responsible Government (NBCRG). NBCRG has publicly proclaimed that its group believes government officials and their employees should be accountable for their actions and lack of actions. People aligned with or supported by NBCRG have criticized City Hall for lack of transparency or communication, and for not involving the community more in decisions. We should now expect NBCRG and its supporters to criticize their chosen school board members for refusing to allow community input in one of the most important decisions they make as elected officials.
