10/03/09 - The Block Island School Committee considered the possibility of joining the positions of superintendent and principal at a special meeting held Tuesday.

In a power-point presentation, Superintendent Robert Hicks examined the origin of interest in a superintendent/principal position. Noting that the issue was on the table because of the recent resignation of Principal Davida Irving, he pointed out that she took the post of superintendent/principal of a kindergarten- through-fifth grade school in Foster.

Hicks reviewed the history of the island school’s administrative organization, starting with last year’s arrangement of a full-time principal, a part-time superintendent and a part-time special education director. Before that arrangement the school had a full-time principal and full-time superintendent/special education director.

But for nine years prior to that the school was governed by site-based management — a consortium of staff and teachers — along with a part-time superintendent and part-time special education director. And, before that, there had been a full-time principal/superintendent.

The site-based approach was an effort to provide stability at the school in the face of constant turnover in the principal and superintendant positions.

Hicks said many people had approached him, “seeking consistency in the school.” This led him to recognize the need to identify the “key education leader” at the school and how that person should be supported.

He said it was less important to consider the idea of reducing a superintendent’s salary than creating a structure in which the school leader had “appropriate authority and accountability,” and where the lines of responsibility were well defined.

Current organization

Hicks pointed out that currently the school has a full-time principal position, “filled by two part-time interims,” a 90-day superintendent and an 80-day special education director. The combined salaries for those positions is $184,000. However, Hicks was quick to add that figuring in benefits and travel expenses, the total was actually closer to $225,000.

Hicks indicated the largest portion of the budget (70 percent) goes to instruction. With the state average being 52 percent, the island school is the highest for the state in that category. On the other hand, the island school spends the least in the state (7 percent) in the area of support services, such as guidance, library, curriculum and professional development.

School Committee Chair Bill Padien suggested that in the coming fiscal year, the committee should try to make up this deficit and begin to build up the support areas.

The pros and cons

Hicks weighed the potential benefits and problems that could come from a joint superintendent/principal position. On the plus side, he said that the streamlined position could make it possible to “reallocate resources from leadership to the support and operations” areas. The extra funds could provide for long-term professional development of the full-time faculty who live on the island.

On the other hand, Hicks asked, “Is it too much for one person, even with added support? Do multiple administrators provide a better perspective? What’s best for the Block Island School?”

In the ensuing discussion, one prevailing opinion reoccured: the current structure — one month into operation — of two part-time principals under the guidance of a part-time superintendent, was working well.

Padien said he initially considered the two interim principals “a novel idea,” and he still wanted to see how it worked out. As far as combining the positions, he said, “I’m not completely opposed to” the suggestion. His concern, however, was that the administrator in that case would report directly to the School Committee, and he wasn’t sure about that.

Padien said he was thinking about where it would be possible to consolidate: for example, sharing financial services with the town or possibly sharing a special education director with another school district. “Several years ago, we used the special ed director from Narragansett,” he said.

School Committee member Rich Tretheway was concerned about what the salary would be for a joint appointment. He also worried about “tiers of accountability.” He didn’t like the idea of the School Committee becoming “the boss” of the administrator.

“Frankly, I don’t want to be in that position,” said Tretheway.

He asked Hicks for a breakdown of salaries for top administrative positions on the mainland.

Hicks said that superintendents tend to earn between $120,000 and $150,000 a year, while principal positions fell more in the $80,000 to $120,000 range.

Committee member Sean McGarry said that a decision to change the administrative structure should not be dictated by cost, but rather by what would be “best for the school.” He added, “I really like what we have in place now (the shared principal position) and regret we may have to lose this at the end of the school year.”

Audience responses

Technical Education teacher John Warfel said that key to keeping full-time administrators and maintaining continuity was housing. “It can’t be solved without housing. Without that resolution, we’ll have a revolving door!” said Warfel.

Island resident Socha Cohen suggested keeping the current two-person position, with the option of one party making a one-year commitment and the other a two. This option would offer some continuity, she pointed out, with one individual carrying on with experience and institutional memory, if it were necessary for one principal to step down.

Another community member, Shirley Kessler, wondered whether the basic question of job descriptions had been adequately addressed and also wanted to know “how well-advised the faculty are” about the potential administrative changes being considered. Hicks assured her that he planned to speak with the faculty.

Emphasizing the uniqueness of the island community, resident Pat Doyle suggested that to garner the support of community at large, the committee should clarify the needs of the school, presenting specific benchmarks the board was trying to achieve.

In the end, the board did not arrive at a definitive conclusion. Padien said there was still too much on the table to consider. He suggested tabling the discussion for another special meeting set for December 7 at 7 p.m.

Summing up, Hicks noted before that date he would have meetings with the faculty and current principals, and they would come back in December “to see where we are.” He felt certain those interim discussions could serve as “a spring-board to a decision!”