NORTHFIELD — While more than 75 parents, teachers and students turned out to express their concerns with Pioneer Valley Regional School District Superintendent Ruth Miller at the school committee meeting Thursday, the majority of the committee rated Miller’s overall performance “proficient” in her first end-of-cycle evaluation.
Eleven committee members rated Miller on a scale that ranged from “unsatisfactory” to “exemplary.” Five, the majority, deemed her performance “proficient.” Two said her performance was “unsatisfactory,” two said it “needs improvement” and another two said it was “exemplary,” resulting in a range of differing opinions.
The ratings were read during June’s committee meeting Thursday, in the school’s cafeteria.
Miller was evaluated using four standards: instructional leadership, management and operations, family and community engagement, and professional culture. Again, the majority, often accounting for four or five votes, found her proficient in these categories. One or two committee members opted not to answer in each of the four categories.
The School Committee encouraged members of the audience who were interested in seeing the detailed results of the evaluation to approach the central office for a copy, stating that the document is public record.
In response to questions about how the evaluation was conducted, committee members explained that each of them received a rubric, the standard for which is established by the Massachusetts Association of School Committees. The members had six days to thoroughly and thoughtfully complete the evaluation. In it, they praise what Miller has been doing well, and provide detailed feedback for how she can improve next year.
Prior to the evaluations, a handful of community members again voiced their concerns, while others spoke highly of Miller.
“We have done everything but let her do her job,” said Claire Brennan, inclusion specialist at Pioneer. She commented on the disrespect she has seen, particularly through a blog at pvrsconcernandissues.blogspot.com.
“My concern is that we have lost sight of something,” she continued. “I think we have lost sight of putting students first.”
Assistant Superintendent Gail Healy also read a statement.
“There was a lot of time spent selecting a superintendent,” she said, adding that “it is not uncommon for a new person to be a scapegoat.”
Miller has been targeted by many community members, who feel she has led to what they see as excessive staff turnover in the past year.
“Pioneer is a top-notch school district,” Healy continued. “I challenge the naysayers … to move forward. The majority of us would like to get back to focusing on what you hired us to do.”
Scott Lyman, a former principal of Bernardston Elementary School and Gill Elementary School, inquired into whether exit interviews had been carried out with staff members who have recently resigned, as he had requested at the last committee meeting.
Committee Chairwoman Patricia Shearer said simply that answers to Lyman’s and other questions should be put on the Pioneer Valley Regional School District website within the next two weeks.