GREENFIELD — Some parents of students in the Greenfield School Department have asked that the School Committee keep the community apprised of what is happening with Superintendent Jordana Harper, who has not worked for the past three weeks or so.
Lukas Martin, a teacher at Greenfield High School, member of the Greenfield Education Association (teachers’ union) and parent of a kindergartner, said he’d like to know what’s going on with leadership in Greenfield schools.
“We need the district to clear up information about the current state of leadership,” he said. “We know you’re in the process of forming a superintendent search committee and that will be ongoing for the rest of the year. Who will be in charge? Who is now?”
Martin, who was on the search committee that recommended Harper several years ago, said he understands it won’t be a quick process, so he wants to know what’s happening in the meantime.
“No one is asking for personal information about the superintendent,” he said. “We don’t need those types of details. But we know she’s absent, so who is replacing her?”
School Committee Chair Amy Proietti said it has been about six weeks since the issue came about, and about three weeks since Harper has not been “actively working.” She said she cannot discuss it further because it’s a personnel matter.
Harper commented in an email earlier this week that she was injured at work, as the School Committee is aware, and is home on doctor’s orders while she recovers.
“I have provided to the School Committee regular updates from my doctors and health care professionals,” Harper wrote. “Prior to my temporary leave, I had appointed superintendent-certified principals (Melodie) Goodwin (at Newton Elementary School) and (Karin) Patenaude (at Greenfield High School) to assist in my temporary absence in order to provide day-to-day support to the parents, staff and community until my return. The committee has always been aware of the background about this temporary change in leadership, I have offered to assist as much as practically possible but, presumably to reduce potential confusion in communications, the School Committee chair (Amy Proietti) has asked me not to have any communication or to do any work while I am away from the office.”
Harper said she greatly misses the community, students and staff of Greenfield’s public schools.
“I remain willing to help the school community in any way I can while I recover,” she wrote in the email. “I hope to return to work as soon as possible.”
The union has said it is concerned that while much of the day-to-day operations of schools can function well under the guidance of building principals, there are many ways in which the absence of a superintendent will negatively impact schools, from personnel issues to labor relations and negotiated changes in learning models during the pandemic.
Proietti explained that the School Committee is using the same procedure it does when a superintendent is away for the day or for a week or two on vacation, with Goodwin and Patenaude stepping in, in addition to handling their usual workloads.
“They are doing what needs to be done,” Proietti said.
Harper gave notice in September that she would not renew her contract for the 2021 to 2022 school year. Jean Wall, who will head up the search committee to find a new superintendent, said that committee will consist of 10 to 13 people and will include teachers, parents, community members and others. She said the School Committee had hoped to have started the search by now, but the pandemic has slowed the process.
Once the search committee is formed, the School Committee will hire a firm to help with the superintendent search, according to Proietti. The committee hopes to hire one before the beginning of the new school year in September.
Reach Anita Fritz at 413-772-9591 or afritz@recorder.com.