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Warwick begins works as new superintendent

Date: 8/1/2012

By G. Michael Dobbs

news@thereminder.com

SPRINGFIELD — With his contract approved by the School Committee, new School Superintendent Daniel Warwick told Reminder Publications the district would have an "exciting year" in 2012 to 2013.

On the top of the list is the new Roger L. Putnam Vocational Technical Academy, which Warwick described as "a home run for the city." Work continues on three other building projects, he added, including the renovations to the Forest Park Middle School, the repair of the Mary A. Dryden Veterans Memorial School and the building of the new Elias Brookings Museum Magnet School.

Warwick said the School department staff would be focused this year on rewriting the curriculum to meet Common Core standards, which would work literacy into every class.

He said this would be a "major endeavor."

All teachers would receive training in assisting English Language Learners (ELL) to provide English as Second Language students with greater attention in every class. Warwick said ELL students have not scored in standard tests as high as he knows they could.

Another initiative would be the adoption of a new evaluation system for teachers and administrators. Warwick explained the new system allows principals to do more announced and unannounced observations of teachers, which should result in better instruction.

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It is the contract equivalent of the "tale of the tape" in boxing.

Compared with the contract negotiated by the Finance Control Board for Dr. Alan Ingram, Warwick is a cheap date.

Gone are a number of the controversial perks that drew the attention of local officials and residents to Ingram's compensation package.

During the last year of his contract Ingram was making $257,023 in total compensation. Warwick will be making $198,500.

A life-long resident of the city, Warwick will not receive any of the relocation expenses — more than $53,000 — that Ingram received.

Warwick will not have an annuity like Ingram, into which the city annually paid $15,000.

Warwick will not have a $650 a month payment for automobile expenses. Ingram received that in lieu of mileage, tolls and parking.

Although Ingram had a severance package that gave him 18 months or payment to the end of his contract, whichever was less, Warwick has no severance provision.

Although Ingram had a schedule of raises during the four years he was here, Warwick will have a 2 percent cost of living raise for each year of his term and an up to 3 percent increase based on the performance of the school district.

"My main ambition is to lead the district's effort to improve student achievement. I'm not motivated by money," Warwick said. "I consider this contract fair and reasonable."

Warwick also announced several personnel changes and re-organization last week. He said that Kate Fenton, who currently serves as Chief Schools Redesign Officer, would be the Chief Instructional Officer.

Warwick eliminated the position of Chief Academic Officer and instead created the job Common Core Administrator in its place. He appointed Dr. Natalie Dunning to fill that position, which will be funded by a grant, therefore saving the district money.

Warwick also dissolved the Senior Leadership Team and in its place re-instituted the Instructional Leadership Team and added an Operational Leadership Team.

An assistant superintendent has not yet been appointed and Warwick said he would be posting a job opening for that position.