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Date: 5/24/2018
LONGMEADOW – At the May 9 School Committee meeting, the Longmeadow School Committee members presented their evaluation of Superintendent Dr. Martin O’Shea. While the Board commended O’Shea’s ability to be present in the schools, at athletic events, through email and in the news, there were concerns amongst the group referencing matters that were discussed both privately and publicly with O’Shea regarding student safety, communication between the School Committee and Superintendent and commitments that they felt were unfulfilled.
Chair Michelle Grodsky explained that the School Committee is required to evaluate the superintendent each year, “This is one of the most important things we are charged to accomplish. Reviewing the superintendents performance is one of the greatest responsibilities we have to the students and to their parents, to all of the people in Longmeadow.”
On April 3, Grodsky shared, in preparation for the evaluation the School Committee along with O’Shea attended training in evaluations.
During the meeting, the Committee took 20 to 30 minutes to read one another’s feedback and individual comments on documents they gave one another. When the meeting resumed, the group went down a list of feedback and data points to evaluate O’Shea’s performance as superintendent.
Vice Chair of the School Committee Russell Dupere explained how O’Shea would be evaluated.
“There’s three goals that Marty submitted to us, and in addition to the evaluation there’s four standards that we also rate for a total of seven different areas, and then after you compile all of the seven factors there’s an overall summited rating,” Dupere said.
The ratings in this category would either be ‘did not meet,’ ‘some progress,’ ‘significant progress,’ ‘met,’ or ‘exceeded.’
Of the first goal the Committee discussed, professional practice, they agreed that O’Shea met his professional practice and community engagement goal.
“In regard to your professional practice goal and family and community engagement is a strong suit, however the k-8 student and family handbooks were still only in draft form. Last year the committee requested that the handbooks be provided earlier so that we could thoroughly review them,” Dupere commented. “I know that you consistently provided us with important documents at the last minute. This issue has been addressed numerous times over the last two years but continues to be an issue.”
“Dr. O’Shea is strong in the area of family and community engagement. In my opinion, this is his strongest performance area. He is always available to staff, families, town officials and community organizations and willing to create opportunities to support the goals of LPS,” Committee member Kerrin Morrin stated.
The second goal the School Committee discussed was that of student learning. Though the group had varied separate responses with one did not meet, one some progress, two ratings of significant progress and three ratings of met, the group voted on a motion of significant progress.
Morrin said, “More needs to be done to create a culture where students, staff and parents feel empowered to speak candidly on issues of academics and athletics, but as a district, we are moving in the right direction.”
Committee member Melanie Rothstein added, “As far as professional development, that stuck out to me in terms of a lot of the feedback that we’ve gotten from staff members this year it was really hit home that the level of professional development has really risen. That was a consistent theme that made an impression on me.”
With the third goal being district improvement, the School Committee agreed that it had been met.
“The district improvement plan was completed and I believe it was in line with school improvement plan goals and school committee goals,” School Committee member Stephanie Jasmin said.
Following the discussion of the three goals, the Committee moved on to the other portion of the evaluation regarding four standards, with the first being instructional leadership.
O’Shea received two needs improvement, four proficient and one exemplary rating. The group decided to average the rating to proficient.
“In a short period of time you [O’Shea] have inspired our staff and allowed them to express their unique educational talents by giving them the professional freedom they have earned. Your staff is overwhelmingly pleased with your leadership,” Grodsky said.
She continued to explain, however, that also relevant to curriculum and instruction she felt O’Shea put the district at risk and in a place of compromise after he allegedly didn’t act on an agreement he made with the School Committee to post a part-time certified position in an effort to fill a staffing gap.
“Not posting this position was a risk to the curriculum and instruction of our students and failing to inform the Committee of the change to the agreement compromised trust,” Grodsky said. “Many of your actions over the course of this year hurt our district and affected the education of all of our students for several months, diminishing your performance and effectiveness in each indicator of this standard.”
Dupere, who had originally voted exemplary for this standard, stated that he’d been, “very pleased” with O’Shea’s leadership and that he’s moved the district in a “positive direction.”
The review continued for over an hour and a half, and can be viewed on Longmeadow TV’s YouTube page at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0fi0vVsHuOU&t=7602s.
The School Committee stated in a press release that throughout the course of the meeting they sited “several issues” including the Superintendent telling administrators in advance about proposed raises, as well as complaints brought forward by parents regarding inappropriate behavior of a LPS employee toward students that were not investigated.
In a statement, O’Shea stated, “At the School Committee meeting last week, my annual evaluation was completed by each member of the Committee. I was pleased by the Committee’s determination that I met two of my stated goals, Family and Community Relations and the Development of a District Improvement Plan, as well as making significant progress on my third goal relating to Inclusive Practice. The Committee, however, noted the need for improvement in a number of areas including the need for clear and consistent communication. I want to assure the Longmeadow community, parents and students that I heard the Committee’s concerns and I am committed to building a more effective relationship with the School Committee and I am committed to continuing to refine and enhance my practice and my leadership skills.”