About 30 residents, students and district personnel turned out Wednesday night for the first of two scheduled presentations by the School Leadership, the firm hired by the Board of Education to search for a new Clarkstown Schools Superintendent.  Throughout the day, Dr. Charles Fowler, Dr. Howard Smith and Dr. Carol Choye held a series of stakeholder meetings with elementary, middle, high school and special education teachers; representatives of the district’s bargaining units; 50 students from North and South high schools; assistant superintendents, and confidential secretaries. 

Fowler explained the steps and timing of the search process, which he said could result in the board appointing a superintendent in April.  Based on the preliminary timeline for January, the school board would adopt superintendent specifications and authorize advertising the position.  In February and March, applications would close and the consultants would screen candidates.

By March, semi-finalists would be presented to the board, finalists would be selected for interviews and a contract negotiated.  Superintendent Dr. Margaret Keller-Cogan's contract expires in June.   

Fowler asked the audience members to respond to three questions.

The questions were:

• Why do people view Clarkstown as positively as they do?
• What are the challenges the superintendent will fact in the district over the next three to five years?
• What personal qualities including background, experience and leadership style are important?

Debbie Lurie of New City said, “I’m angry about what I see.”

She questioned whether the consultants would recommend someone who was qualified or a candidate who met the board’s qualifications and who they could politically manipulate.  Fowler said the board would decide what the qualifications for candidates will be.  He said in a few of the 60 superintendent searches the firm conducted, they determined the search was not genuine.  In those instances where the board had already selected a candidate, the firm resigned.

“We are not shills,” he said.

Jennifer Studwell asked if an emphasis could be put on New York State candidates, who would be familiar with the state’s testing issues.  Fowler said it could be added to the criteria as “New York State experience preferred.”  He cautioned about being too limiting with the criteria because you “want as broad a funnel of candidates as possible.”

Phil Leiter noted the district’s students encompass a wide range of abilities and needs from those with special needs to exceptional students and that it changes from year to year.

“I think it’s imperative that we have a superintendent that is nimble enough to address all of these needs,” he said.

Leiter also brought up the openings in the district office due to recent resignations and asked if those should be left for the superintendent to fill.  

“I think the idea of allowing the new superintendent to play a role in the selection is good,” said Fowler. 

Smith suggested having the organization of the district evaluated before filling the positions.  He said it was not necessarily a good thing for a superintendent to bring staff members from another district with them.  Choye agreed and said a new superintendent should spend the first two months getting to know the district and not automatically bring a team from another school system with them because it might not be a good fit.

One parent asked how the consultants are addressing the concerns of candidates who have researched Clarkstown through Google and learned of the ongoing school district controversies. 

“We need to let the people know that the Google description of Clarkstown is not Clarkstown,” said Fowler.  “We have to help candidates do that evaluation in a balanced way." 

Clarkstown has a history of student and athletic success and superintendent tenure. Smith said candidates will be asked to consider the district both in the short term and long term.

Other suggested experience included transportation, infrastructure improvements, partnership with the PTA and strengthening vocational program offerings.

Fowler said more than 150 people completed the online survey and that it would remain online until Friday January 20.  The survey responses will be given verbatim to the board.  

At tonight’s 8 p.m. meeting, the school board is expected to vote on approving the next stakeholder meeting for Monday, Jan. 9 at 7:30 p.m. at Clarkstown South High School and Monday, Jan. 23.  According to Fowler, Jan. 23 will be another day of meetings with school board members; former school board members; central administration staff; town officials; Chamber of Commerce leaders; sports booster club members; PTA leaders; clergy; Rockland Business Association leaders; senior citizens and the district budget committee.