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Reminder Assistant Editor LONGMEADOW Last week the Longmeadow School Committee voted to make Interim Superintendent E. Jahn Hart the permanent superintendent for the Longmeadow School District. While there was a consenus among the Committee that Hart has been doing a great job as the acting superintendent, whether or they should offer her the position before putting out a request for candidates was another story. At the Sept. 25 School Committee meeting School Committee Vice-Chair Jim Nittoli made the motion to promote Hart to the position. Committee member Robert Barkett said that the challenge the Committee had was that, in the Spring, they discussed having a search. "I feel that Jahn's doing a phenomenal job," he said, adding that he was concerned that all the people looking at the Committee under a microscope may be concerned that they did not follow their initially discussed process. "Regardless of what led to the situation, it's good for the board to go through the process appropriately," agreed Committee Clerk Geoff Weigand. "I'm extremely pleased with what I have seen [from Jahn]." When Committee Chair Mary Vogel asked Weigand the process he envisioned, he said he would have liked to construct a list of what they are looking for in a superintendent, put out an open request, and that he hoped Jahn would be one of the people responding to it. Vogel noted that the school district used a consulting firm when they hired prior Superintendent Dr. Scott AndersEn, and that it cost the district about $20,000. Committee member Jerold Duquette said "why spend money on a process we don't need." Barkett said the School Committee was "sliced and diced" over the last five years because of lack of process. "I feel its an important process," he said. Duquette said the reason the School Committee was "sliced and diced" was there was "a perception of them doing [the process] without transparency." He said in selecting Hart they could say, "we didn't waste your money, and we did it out in the open. We can be clear and transparent." Barkett warned Duquette that some of his comments may be close to executive session discussion, but Duquette said, "Everything I'm saying, I want the public to hear." "Professional competence is not a subject for executive session," Vogel said, adding that Hart brings continuity to the position. Committee member Rob Aseltine said that participating in a superintendent search should not carry an expense for a consulting firm. "I don't think it requires us to spend that kind of money," Aseltine said. "The reason I brought the motion up is I've had a chance to work with the last three superintendents. My experience since Jahn has taken over has been night and day," Nittoli explained. "And I'm really not worried about any repercussions because I think she will do a good job. I know she will." When the School Committee approved the motion, Hart was initially speechless, and then said she was honored. Hart's contract as the interim superintendent began in July. Before that she served as assistant superintendent for Instructional Services. According to information released by the school department, Hart has been with the Longmeadow School District since 1998. | ||||||
