The Journal Star reports that District 150 is “considering spending between $7,000 and $18,000 to hire a search firm to help it find a new principal for Richwoods High School.”
First of all, I don’t see how this can be interpreted as anything less than a no-confidence vote against D150 teachers. No one internally is qualified? No one has the necessary leadership skills? What is the leadership of D150 trying to say here? Maybe Associate Superintendent Hannah can shed some light on this:
“We want a pool, I think, that we can really be proud of … I think that’s where the drive is coming from,” Associate Superintendent Herschel Hannah said tonight at a School Board committee meeting.
Ah. Translation: We’re not proud of our internal pool of candidates. (Although, just reading his remarks, he doesn’t sound very sure of himself. He thinks that’s why they’re considering spending thousands of dollars. He doesn’t know?)
Secondly, even if a school needed extra-special expert leadership skills — someone from outside the system that would come in and really turn a school around — is Richwoods the D150 school that needs it? Is Richwoods really more in need of a (for lack of a better term) “top-tier principal” than Manual, Woodruff, or Central?
I have an idea: Why don’t we put Herschel Hannah or Cindy Fischer in as principal at Richwoods and then eliminate one of those completely unnecessary, money-wasting “associate superintendent” positions? We’d save the 7-18 thousand dollars on a search firm and a full-time salary/benefits position — a win-win for a school district that’s supposedly trying to save money.
Perhaps the Board should appoint a Search Committee of local residents to screen potential candidates and make appropriate recommendations to the Board and Adminstration.
Off topic, but still about D150:
Check out Clare Jellick’s blog today. What is up with Bill O’Brien? On election night, I specifically heard him tell CJ and others on WCBU that he wouldn’t challenge the results. Then he filed for a recount (and then a second recount, I think). Now, he’s going after Parker on 2 grounds, one obviously wrong (a conflict of interest because she works for the city) and one a technicality. Doesn’t he have anything better to do?
I may be incorrect, but I believe that to become an administrator even at the level of a principal requires a set of certifications with the state. I would be surprised if there were a significant number of teachers at the school who already have that certification.
The idea of putting Hannah back into the role of high school principal is certainly novel. Have you researched the success of WHS under his tenure? Have you spoken with the teachers, students, parents and other staff members as to his effectiveness? If you had, you might not be so quick to suggest he return to any school leadership setting. As for Fischer, she retires at the end of the 2007-08 school term and we should all wish her well in her retirement.
The proposal to retain a search firm to conduct the search for the RHS principal was presented in open session at the last BOE meeting. Teacher Bob Darling was a voice of dissent from the audience.
To be contracted as a principal in the public schools, a candidate must possess a Type 75 Certificate with General Administrative endorsement. Although there may be many staff members who hold the appropriate certicate, they may not have the background and expertise to qualify them for the educational leadership of a high school. A successful high school principal generally has had other high school administrative experience.
Before going to the expense of contracting a search firm, it would be economically prudent to conduct a broad-based search throughout the downstate region with classified advertising, internet postings, postings with the ISBE, LUDA (Large Unit District Association), and other professional organizations. Not only would this be more cost effective but the BOE would be exercising their duty of fiduciary responsibility to Peoria taxpayers.
How will this proposed expense affect the alleged budget surplus projected by the #150 administration for the ’07-’08 school term?
C. J.
I applaud your thinking in such a fine fiscal manner. It’s a shame the BOE doesn’t do the same. What actually would be even a better solution seems to escape the public’s view or perhaps knowledge. In ranking of pay at 150 first is the overpaid King Hinton. Second comes the Court Jester Cahill with his pay and extraordinary and unheard of perks. You assumed that Associate Superintendents Fischer and Hannah as the two training wheels on Hinton’s bike come in third but they don’t! Instead Assistant Superintendent Cheryl Sanfilip is the 3rd highest paid 150 employee. You know what her duties are? The principals report to her – not King Hinton. By the way before she transferred to the admin building she was the Assistant Principal at (guess where) Richwoods High School! Besides that RHS is her alma mater and to this day she’ll tell you she still bleeds green! So, the obvious choice to save money is to delete her position and move her to RHS. I’m not saying cut her pay, but instead utilize the salary expense in a more prudent manner. Is it going to happen? I doubt it…why? Ms Sanfilip has the nads that Hinton doesn’t and Hannah doesn’t either. Once Fischer has retired and Hinton retires for the 2nd time then bet your farm Sanfilip will make a dash for the superintendent position. And honestly if Hannah was to be picked over Sanfilip then Peorians better pack up quickly! ^oo^~
Oh, Kat – Sanfilip as the Superintendent and Hannah remains as Assistant – that is about on a par with the blind leading the unseeing. Either way you distribute the positions between those two, the kids and city lose.
11Bravo…
You are half right. You need, in most cases a minimum of a Masters in Administration and what is called a “Type 75” certification. However, do not underestimate the number of people internally who have them. There many teachers teaching with the degree (and it is a pay raise on the teaching schedule for having it) and, in most cases, deans, asst. principals, councelors, etc have them. Intenerally, there are many eith the qualifications on paper…now in practice? Who knows?
JB
Jazzbass – in #150, Deans, Ass’t Principals, some Supervisory positions, Principals, Directors, and Ass’t./Assoc. Superintendents, are all required by law to hold a Type 75 certificate with General Administrative endorsement. Most people holding this type of certificate have completed a Master’s in School Administration, but a person with a Master’s in Curriculum & Instruction (as one example) may take the additional coursework required and still qualify for and hold a Type 75. The Superintendent must hold a Superintendent’s Endorsement as well as the General Administrative endorsement to be employed in that capacity.
Counselors are not required to hold an administrative certificate but they must have completed an NCATE approved program in school guidance counseling and hold a Type 73 School Service Personnel certificate endorsed in Guidance Counseling. Social Workers and School Psychologists also must hold a School Service Personnel certificate with the appropriate endorsement.
The above bloggers are obviously present or past teachers and know what they are talking about. However, if Harry Whitaker, Dave Barnwell and one other former 150 person would become the search committee, I would feel a lot better about the new Administrators;their choice would not be binding, but could limit the playing field for the board. A little local knowledge goes a long way.