The not-so-super chain of superintendents

In just more than 10 years the North East (Webutuck) Central School District has seen a total of eight men hold the position of superintendent/interim superintendent of schools. Ray Castellani, formerly of the Marlboro Central School District, is the most recent person to hold the post. He was appointed as interim superintendent at a special meeting on Friday, Dec. 19. Castellani follows a long line of men whose short-term resignations have contributed to a sense of instability in the school district. Richard Johns, who held the post from July of 2004 to July of 2009, had the honor of serving the longest stretch in the last decade. Michael O’Neil, who held the interim post in August 2009, served for the shortest period. David Paciencia, who held the interim post from August 2009 to December 2009 also served only a short stint. Lee Bordick, who was interim superintendent from January 2010 to the summer of 2010 didn’t have enough time to make a lasting impression. Steven Schoonmaker served as superintendent from the summer of 2010 to the summer of 2011, lasting only the year. David Paciencia served for a second time as interim superintendent from July 2011 to September 2011. Then there was James Gratto, the most recent superintendent, who held the post from September 2011 to January 2015.The pattern is troubling. Not only does the constant influx of new blood make it difficult for the school board, faculty, staff, students and community to get to know who is serving in office, it lends to a sense of chaos. Such turnover makes the school waters seem uncharted, undecipherable and untrustworthy. And how well, truly, can someone govern when they’re not expected to last for longer than a few months? The short terms undercut any authority a person in that position would hope to have. It’s hard enough for an interim superintendent to make his mark; when superintendent terms are punctuated by multiple resignations they hold little weight with those who are in need of guidance and authority.What is it, we must ask, about Webutuck that makes it so difficult to hold onto a superintendent? Is it the salary? With Gratto making roughly $133,000 for the 2014-15 school year, with an additional $53,000 in benefits, the salary is nothing to sneeze at. Perhaps it’s the job requirements? Running a school is full of challenges and hard decisions. Is it the school environment? Are staff members, or even the students, too difficult to deal with on a daily basis? Is it the community? Has the broader population been hostile or overly critical? Or is it just that we have come to accept short term solutions for a problem that has long-term implications? Nearly every time a new superintendent has joined the district he has said he hopes to stay. So what changed in the course of any given super’s service that has prompted him to leave? That is what the Board of Education (BOE) must look at — it needs to troubleshoot the turnover problem and figure out incentives to keep superintendents who perform well while fostering a climate where they want to remain. It’s no easy task, but it’s a situation that needs to be remedied if our students are to get stable and consistent schooling.The public can do its part by attending school board meetings and getting to know whomever is serving as superintendent. Start up a conversation, give feedback, take ownership of the superintendent conundrum and try to be a part of the solution. Not only that, but those who do attend meetings can get in on the ground floor and be privy to the profile of any new hires. Again, giving the BOE feedback during the hiring process might make a difference in how it approaches the process, and who is brought on board as a result.In the meantime, it’s important to offer the newest interim superintendent, who has also said he hopes to join the district for the long term, as much support as possible. Creating an atmosphere of cooperation is key as Webutuck strives to hold onto high-performing superintendents for as long as it can.