GREENFIELD — In an effort to find the best possible person to place at the helm of the School Department, the district hosted a series of community forums to garner feedback on which particular qualities the city’s next superintendent should hold.
A group of residents, including Human Rights Commission members Paul Jablon and Linda Goldstein, gathered at the Greenfield High School library last Wednesday for a brainstorming session lead by New England School Development Council member Judy Paolucci.
“Once we get the data from the survey and we talk to people in groups, we will write out a profile of the ideal candidate for Greenfield. A lot of people think, ‘Oh, every district is going to have the same thing,’ but it doesn’t end up being true, because each district has their own needs,” Paolucci said, explaining that responses collected from the community will be used to generate interview questions. “Even the needs of Greenfield five years from now are going to be different than its needs right now.”
Paolucci asked residents which qualities they would like to see in the future superintendent, and what immediate goals the right candidate should meet within his or her first year on the job. After jotting respondents’ ideas on a large notepad, she then gave the participants stickers and asked them to vote on which qualities and goals are most important to them.
In terms of qualities residents would like to see in the next superintendent, most participants agreed it was important to build a culture that “supports deep learning” and promotes diversity, can “empower and engage” students and staff, and welcomes challenges and makes an effort to be present and engaging in classrooms and at community events.
“I want to recognize that the school is not separate from the community. It is a part of the community, which means you have to have to see it in the context of the whole community,” said Doug Selwyn, who chairs Franklin County Continuing the Political Revolution’s education task force. “There’s also an aspect of getting to know the dynamics of the schools and town government and the budgeting process.”
City residents also hoped that the right candidate to commit to a communication channel with parents and guardians, be present in every school and have an understanding of “what’s going on,” participate in a “listening tour” of the district and to improve the dynamic between the School Department and City Council.
Paolucci also asked a group of high school students what qualities they wish to see in their next superintendent. Reading from a list the students had written her, Paolucci shared that the students wanted their next superintendent to have experience working with all ages, be bilingual, have previous school administrative experience and be professional and open-minded.
The students, she continued, also wanted to see their superintendent participate in school and community events, work to monitor bathrooms and prevent vaping, increase disciplinary action around substance use in schools and improve the quality of school breakfasts and lunches.
“I see the desire for vaping prevention in other schools, as well as students — it bothers them. They don’t want to go into bathrooms where there’s vaping. They don’t want to be pressured,” Paolucci said, regarding students’ wish for bathroom monitoring. “It’s usually bullying, but it’s also some of the things that go on, like vaping and drugs. Students want to go to the bathroom and not feel like that stuff is in their face.”
With review of superintendent applications due Dec. 1, the city is working to establish a screening committee, which will interview the first round of candidates and make suggestions to the School Committee.
Those interested in serving on the Screening Committee can apply online before Nov. 9. Selected Screening Committee candidates will be contacted to confirm interest and availability, and be invited to the Nov. 12 School Committee meeting to be appointed.
“Serving on the Superintendent Screening Committee is an opportunity to have a significant influence on the direction of Greenfield’s School District by helping the community select its next Superintendent,” Mayor Ginny Desorgher wrote in a statement. “I hope that interested community members take the time to apply and serve if selected.”
In addition to community feedback forums, residents are encouraged to complete an anonymous survey to share their views on the right candidate’s qualities.