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| By G. Michael Dobbs Managing Editor SPRINGFIELD People who were expecting fireworks at Thursday night's Springfield School Committee meeting between Mayor Domenic Sarno and the members who voted to extend Superintendent Joseph Burke's contract were disappointed. There was no discussion of the issue. That doesn't mean, though, Sarno, as a member of the Finance Control Board, is going to stop seeking a replacement for Burke. Sarno told Reminder Publications after the meeting the nation-wide search for a new superintendent will move forward. "They [the School Committee members] made their feelings known," he said. "I respect that." The mayor said he agrees with a national search, even though he has been a vocal advocate of finding local people to fill key municipal positions. He said he would like to have someone heading the school who can think "out of the box." He emphasized there is much good in the school system and that he will be an "activist chairman who is more than willing to highlight the good." Despite the vote of some members of the School Committee, there was no sign of tension at the meeting, which Sarno described as "productive." The committee approved the creation of an Ad Hoc group to find the Springfield Renaissance School a permanent home, a suggestion of member Marjorie Hurst. Committee Vice Chair Kenneth Shea will be working with other members of the committee to select the members of the group. "We have to keep this [issue] in front of us," Hurst said. Committee member Michael Rodgers reported the Building and Maintenance Sub-committee met with Renaissance School Principal Dr. Stephen Mahoney and toured a building that could house the school that is presently sharing space at Van Sickle Middle School. As the building is privately owned and occupied, Rodgers could not reveal its location at this time. Hurst also reported the sub-committee forming a policy on uniforms for all city school students is very close to bringing the policy to the whole committee. Hurst praised members Antonette Pepe, who was not at the meeting, for her work in creating the policy that would affect kindergarten through grade 12. Sarno said that other developments discussed in the meeting such as a task force to examine ways to help under-achieving middle schools and an evaluation procedure for principals, as well as the upcoming uniform policy, all are part of his vision to improve the safety of the city by better preparing its children. |