The School Committee discussed leadership planning during its meeting last Thursday.
Committee member Jim Dillon led the discussion of the committee’s leadership planning, especially as it relates to interim Superintendent Tom Geary’s position in the district.
“Tom Geary has been off to a truly sensational start as superintendent,” he said. “Tom met with LTA (Lynnfield Teachers Association) leadership and made effective changes that began to restore a relationship of mutual respect between the LTA and school leadership.”
Dillon described Geary’s initiatives and accomplishments as the interim superintendent, including developing a budget that allowed four new elementary teachers to maintain class-size needs, hiring a firm to audit the technology department and improving its role in education technology, and pushing forward a policy to support elementary students with food allergies.
“Considering the glacial pace at which educational improvement usually happens, Tom’s progress for the district in a few months has been stunning. His focus when looking at these policies is on improving the teachers’ ability to teach and the students’ ability to learn,” Dillon said.
He said having a short-term superintendent makes it harder to agree to a new collective bargaining agreement with the LTA and establish a school budget.
“In short, with a one-year deal, a superintendent does not have the authority needed to drive improvement,” Dillon said. “I believe we should give Tom the backing he needs to move us forward over the next two years. I would support giving Tom a second year as superintendent. He has been great, and it would give us a chance for continued stability and growth, and it would give Tom a fair chance to reach his goals.”
Committee member Jenny Sheehan agreed that making progress in the district with a short-term superintendent is difficult.
Committee member Jamie Hayman said Geary has done a very good job in his interim role, but the committee “owes it to the community” and owes it to Geary to do a full search for a long-term superintendent for the district.
Committee Vice Chair Kristen Elworthy said she is in favor of hiring Geary for a two-year contract, but there are advantages to launching a search for a new long-term superintendent.
Committee Chair Kate DePrizio said in the context of the difficult year the district has had, hiring Geary would be beneficial for the district.
Geary made it clear that he is interested in the long-term superintendent position.
The committee will further discuss this at its next meeting on July 10.