Carolyn's Corner

February 22, 2007

It’s amazing what changes can happen in just one year. Just about this time last year, our district was in a state of absolute chaos. The superintendent had just announced her imminent retirement citing micro-management by the majority of the Board as well as their unwillingness to renew her contract which had expired the previous fall. One of those same Board members and a district personnel commissioner were personally being sued by a former employee. As the accusations swirled from all sides, the district careened out of control. The subsequent result was a district that went into Program Improvement for the second year.

Fast forward one year and things have turned totally around. The face of the Board has changed dramatically as the PVFT endorsed candidates were elected and some incumbents were unseated. This Board seems totally focused on student achievement and a positive district direction. Although interim superintendent Terry McHenry has kept the district heading in a positive direction, the Board has determined that the former superintendent, Dr. Mays, is our best hope to avoid more serious sanctions from the state and federal governments. As she is poised to come back March 1 as our new interim superintendent, there has been an audible sigh of relief throughout the district.

Part of the district PI strategy has been the formation of the DAG (district alternative governance) committee. Headed by Dr. Mays and Chris Chatfield, the DAG has taken over the governance of the seven district schools in year five of program improvement. Through site findings and corrective actions unique to each site, the DAG is hoping to lead these schools and the district out of sanctions from NCLB. Although this has been a stressful process for the staffs in these schools, the hope is high that the DAG can keep the County and/or State Offices of Education out of our district decision making processes. Since Dr. Mays has been so closely involved with DAG, she’ll be completely up to speed as she takes over the reins of the district. I am confident that the partnership that she and I have forged between PVFT and the district will continue to help us all to navigate the minefield called “No Child Left Behind” without any casualties, either at the site or district level. What a difference a year makes!

Carolyn Savino