tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6270815429299703055.post8547197162901865081..comments2023-09-29T06:32:16.005-04:00Comments on My School Committee Blog: 'Seller's market' for superintendents complicates search for school leadersCatherine A. Sandersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03523667921190365891noreply@blogger.comBlogger39125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6270815429299703055.post-42483192509563638632010-03-22T10:16:54.253-04:002010-03-22T10:16:54.253-04:00Let's give Geryk a chance! I imagine if things...Let's give Geryk a chance! I imagine if things are not working out she will be only too happy to move back to her old position or get a Super job in another district! There are plenty of districts that would consider her after she's run the show in Amherst for a while.<br /><br />Remember the title of this thread???<br /><br />Or maybe she and Isabella RB could just swap places.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6270815429299703055.post-87980736557478161952010-03-21T20:34:11.250-04:002010-03-21T20:34:11.250-04:00Nina, doing a good job for a few months is differe...Nina, doing a good job for a few months is different than being qualified to lead a complicated set of districts for 16 months!! At very least, she should have had to go through the same set of rigorous interviews, presentations, and resume review as our previous applicants--Rodriguez, Rodriguez, and Sklarz!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6270815429299703055.post-28939077714328565002010-03-21T15:40:34.460-04:002010-03-21T15:40:34.460-04:00"We're talking about our babies, not maki..."We're talking about our babies, not making buttons in a factory."<br /><br />Finally, someone with a soul. Let's just appoint Maria as permanent Super and be done with it.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6270815429299703055.post-2843715521204635592010-03-21T10:52:20.695-04:002010-03-21T10:52:20.695-04:00You know, last year, people were commenting on wha...You know, last year, people were commenting on what a great job Maria was doing. Now for some reason, the tide has turned. Here is a chronology of comments from Catherine. <br /><br />March 2, 2009<br /><br />I want to start by commending our new Interim Superintendent Maria Geryk for preparing the most thorough and thoughtful data presentation that I've seen in the two years that I've been attending (either as an audience member or a School Committee member) School Committee Meetings. She started this job on Friday, February 27th, and led tonight's meeting in the most clear and organized manner that I've seen this year. I was extremely impressed at how she was able to step into this situation and handle it so well.<br /><br />March 6, 2009<br />I do think she is doing a GREAT job in a very difficult situation.<br /><br />March 17, 2009<br />I'm very glad that she is taking adequate time to really get questions answered and make sure she has all the necessary information before deciding how to proceed<br /><br />April 7, 2009<br />I think this is a wonderful step by our interim superintendent, Maria Geryk, to provide information about our special education services, and I commend her willingness to engage in such an evaluation. <br /><br />April 16, 2009<br />I agree that Maria Geryk is doing a great job! <br /><br />September 4, 2009<br />I also think Maria did a great jobNina Kochhttp://www.arps.org/users/hs/kochn/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6270815429299703055.post-226304704844702582010-03-21T08:46:26.686-04:002010-03-21T08:46:26.686-04:00"Anyone who differs from the established orth..."Anyone who differs from the established orthodoxy (i.e. shows leadership ability) is run out of the profession."<br /><br />Now there's another level headed comment from Ed. This kind of writing smacks of 8th grade thinking. I wouldn't tolerate it for a minute on a student paper, from a middle schooler let alone a high school student.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6270815429299703055.post-11232268377723779382010-03-20T21:52:02.439-04:002010-03-20T21:52:02.439-04:00My understanding is that even though she has compa...My understanding is that even though she has comparatively little education and experience she had a tremendous amount of LEVERAGE. That is what she parlayed into a 28% bump. <br /><br />I think she threatened to walk.<br /><br />The irony is that Amherst contributes 78% of the funding for the regional schools but has only 5 seats on the SC. Note that 4 of 5 of these seats voted against the long term posting of Geryk. Churchill, the only Amherst vote for her, was the guy whose name is on the fiscally irresponsible contracts that have generated a good part of this mess.<br /><br />Put credit where credit is due!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6270815429299703055.post-66759633624562542092010-03-20T21:38:30.194-04:002010-03-20T21:38:30.194-04:00Actually Maria Geryk is making $32,000 LESS than h...Actually Maria Geryk is making $32,000 LESS than her predecessor (Rodriguez: 156K + 15K in moving and housing expenses). Why would she not be paid considerably more than her previous salary when she's now in charge of 3 school districts (Amherst, Regional, and Pelham)? There's no way you could get an "outside" candidate to move here for less than that in this kind of a seller's market.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6270815429299703055.post-26936636448689043532010-03-20T14:37:04.719-04:002010-03-20T14:37:04.719-04:00Catherine, can you tell us how the decision was ma...Catherine, can you tell us how the decision was made to pay Maria Geryk such a large salary? Was the committee unanimous in thinking this was a good idea? Was any comparison made to similar districts in terms of numbers of students or of qualifications of superintendents?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6270815429299703055.post-73788131102275431322010-03-20T08:02:45.929-04:002010-03-20T08:02:45.929-04:00It's also a seller's market for principals...<i>It's also a seller's market for principals. We are currently trying to hire two principals, two asst principals and a Director of Curriculum and Assessment. </i><br /><br />I should go take the extra classes and get my Principal's Certificate.....<br /><br />On a more serious note, the fact that there is such a shortage of leadership in the profession perhaps reflects more on the types of people who have been filtered out of the teaching cadre from which administrators come.<br /><br />For the past thirty years or so, there has been a mindset of almost fascist conformity. Anyone who differs from the established orthodoxy (i.e. shows leadership ability) is run out of the profession. And these people go on into other things (many start charter schools).<br /><br />And as a result, there are not the people in their 40s who you know will be a good superintendent in ten years. It almost is like the cultural revolution in China....Ednoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6270815429299703055.post-28400505677095962912010-03-19T22:39:52.465-04:002010-03-19T22:39:52.465-04:00The Superintendent's Office
or
The Peter Pr...The Superintendent's Office<br /><br />or <br /><br />The Peter Principle Meets Groundhog's Day<br /><br />We're doomed to live the same personnel nightmare over and over again. <br /><br />Eventually, not even MariaG will be spared.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6270815429299703055.post-17152661884491974922010-03-19T22:29:35.685-04:002010-03-19T22:29:35.685-04:00Yes, Larry, that was me, standing behind you the e...Yes, Larry, that was me, standing behind you the entire time you were doing your little song and dance for that tall, elegant couple. I was waiting to walk them down the stairs, and I heard your whole speil. About when you told your neighbor about the override and she cried. [pause] And said she couldn't afford it [pause] and would have to sell her house. And then you cried -- I mean, right there in the hall, you cried. That was a nice touch. You must have told that story hundreds of times, Larry. Do you always cry at the end?<br /><br />And what did you say to your neighbor to upset her so?<br /><br />You didn't recognize me, did you. The tall fellow in the tan jacket and tan slacks? Didn't think so.<br /><br />People in this town have let you get away with this for so long, it's not my problem.<br /><br />And that is all I have to say. Good luck.<br /><br />Kevin<br /><br />---kevinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05982253239243654748noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6270815429299703055.post-41204611810048549962010-03-19T19:24:52.033-04:002010-03-19T19:24:52.033-04:00Actually Longmeadow is run by a Select Board, alth...Actually Longmeadow is run by a Select Board, although like the People's Republic, town meeting holds the purse strings. <br /><br />Even a stopped clock is correct...Larry Kelleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02614645831526190536noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6270815429299703055.post-61345370162968123852010-03-19T19:20:34.674-04:002010-03-19T19:20:34.674-04:00"We are currently trying to hire two principa..."We are currently trying to hire two principals, two asst principals and a Director of Curriculum and Assessment."<br /><br /><br />Who is working on this and why is it taking so long?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6270815429299703055.post-4531431553378779022010-03-19T17:34:09.620-04:002010-03-19T17:34:09.620-04:00By the way, Larry, that was my mother you were tal...By the way, Larry, that was my mother you were talking to in the hall. She was very upset by what you were saying and says you must stop that.<br /><br />---kevinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05982253239243654748noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6270815429299703055.post-91714250653177236232010-03-19T15:37:00.670-04:002010-03-19T15:37:00.670-04:00Larry- Why do you think that would have happened i...Larry- Why do you think that would have happened if we had a mayor? And last I looked Longmeadow is still run by Town Meeting.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6270815429299703055.post-46090223723626331262010-03-19T15:08:59.805-04:002010-03-19T15:08:59.805-04:00I have relationships with people in the district, ...I have relationships with people in the district, friends in the town, and I care about the kids and families I worked with.<br /><br />Maybe it surprises you that someone who worked in the schools could still care about the kids, since your default is to assume that ARSD employees are all in it for whatever we can get. Which in my case was about $12/hour.<br /><br />I gave far more than I got and I still care.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6270815429299703055.post-76501839797293589582010-03-19T14:52:47.213-04:002010-03-19T14:52:47.213-04:00Hmm...And I just noticed on the nomoreoverrides.co...Hmm...And I just noticed on the nomoreoverrides.com/ website that Maria Geryk WAS making $106,458 and now is making $139,000-- a tad over $30,000 more. <br /><br />Kind of fits, don't it?Larry Kelleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02614645831526190536noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6270815429299703055.post-87866888305908595142010-03-19T14:48:13.675-04:002010-03-19T14:48:13.675-04:00And my sources tell me that Principal Mark Jackson...And my sources tell me that Principal Mark Jackson makes a tad more than the $131,236 that shows up on the nomoreoverrides.com/ website.<br /><br />Apparently ousted Super Alberto Rodriguez, after he ousted the Middle School Principal gave Jackson a $2,500/month bonus to pinch hit her job bringing his total take to $161,236. <br /><br />Yep, education pays!Larry Kelleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02614645831526190536noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6270815429299703055.post-3878980797364073162010-03-19T14:19:04.029-04:002010-03-19T14:19:04.029-04:00Who decided that Maria Geryk should be paid $139,0...Who decided that Maria Geryk should be paid $139,000 for being Superintendent? That is more than most area superintendents are paid, and most of them have considerably more experience and education. This seems extravagant at a time when the district is asking for an override. What else is in her contract?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6270815429299703055.post-66546150569403507832010-03-19T14:02:20.045-04:002010-03-19T14:02:20.045-04:00So Anon 11:37 Am, If you live in Northampton what ...So Anon 11:37 Am, If you live in Northampton what do you care?<br /><br />If the town of Amherst--or Hamp for that matter--ran more like a small business (and there is a WORLD of difference between small businesses and GIANT evil corporations like Exxon, Microsoft, and Philip Morris) we would NOT be in this Override situation.<br /><br />First off, by running more like a business we would have a Mayor/Council form of government; and three years ago the Mayor would have said to the all-powerful Teachers Union: "Here's the amount of $ we have for raises 1%--take it or leave it." <br /><br />You know, kind of like what Longmeadow just did. <br /><br />And that ALONE would have ended the need for an Override.Larry Kelleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02614645831526190536noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6270815429299703055.post-83901604108136976882010-03-19T11:37:10.184-04:002010-03-19T11:37:10.184-04:00Wow Larry, so now you are suggesting that Amherst ...Wow Larry, so now you are suggesting that Amherst do illegal things to save money like you do for your business.<br /><br />What a great suggestion. Not. <br /><br />Oh, and I can hear you screaming all the way from Northampton -- when the bills come in for all the legal fees that sort of rule-breaking would incur.<br /><br />Guess what. A town is NOT A BUSINESS. NO, IT IS NOT. You can say all you want that a town should be run like a business but nope, it shouldn't. You just gave a great example of why not.<br /><br />Oh and Ed. Why don't you spend a day shadowing one of the APs at, say, Fort River, and then come back and tell us if you still think that job is unecessary. I worked there; even as a lowly SPED para, I called on that person to help me with our challenging children -- often.<br /><br />Ed, you often say some very interesting and creative things that other people don't think of, but sometimes you are really, really off the mark.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6270815429299703055.post-43212477404362794222010-03-19T09:21:46.501-04:002010-03-19T09:21:46.501-04:00Geeze, Kevin while you had the Assistant AG on the...Geeze, Kevin while you had the Assistant AG on the phone you should have asked him about everyday business shortcuts small business owners like ourselves take in order to survive. I'm sure he would have said "we can't do that."<br /><br />"Better to ask forgiveness than permission."<br /><br />Besides, as another Commenter pointed out the Library can get an exemption for that small amount or better yet "ask permission" to simply spend it out of the recent half-million bequest.Larry Kelleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02614645831526190536noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6270815429299703055.post-56586190232248512772010-03-19T05:54:58.480-04:002010-03-19T05:54:58.480-04:00I notice that nobody has commented on the actual t...I notice that nobody has commented on the actual topic here, which is the seller's market for superintendents.<br /><br />It's also a seller's market for principals. We are currently trying to hire two principals, two asst principals and a Director of Curriculum and Assessment. Next year, we will start the process of searching for a permanent superintendent.<br /><br />If the community can't find a way to come together to some degree, I don't see how we are going to be able to make quality hires. I think we are currently in the "ten foot pole" category.Nina Kochhttp://www.arps.org/users/hs/kochn/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6270815429299703055.post-54230990565269445642010-03-19T02:52:29.639-04:002010-03-19T02:52:29.639-04:00It will never happen, but I would like to see the ...It will never happen, but I would like to see the district contract out the Supt job - contract out everything above the Principal level management (and abolish the AP slots in the K-6 schools). <br /><br />Everything could be done for about 100K - maybe 200K - and there would be a great savings to all. And if people didn't like the way things were going, you just hire a new company much like you hire a new CPA firm.<br /><br />And the School Committee truly would become the policy setting body it is supposed to be...Ednoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6270815429299703055.post-47265923823782811472010-03-18T22:21:11.528-04:002010-03-18T22:21:11.528-04:00Leave them alone. If you are so smart, you run for...Leave them alone. If you are so smart, you run for public office. They are volunteers. That would make you an abuser. Nothing prepared them for this.<br /><br />I actually spoke to an Assistant Attorney General today about Stan's Nigerian shell game. And he confirmed what I supposed, they can't do that. We had a good laugh. <br /><br />I asked him if they would write a letter to that effect and he said they don't write letters about people who said something, they work with municipalities.<br /><br />What is very sad is that some very nice people take Stan at his word.<br /><br />Please, vote no on Tuesday. The people who presented the override have no experience in municipal government and the numbers they are showing us are total lies.<br /><br />There is no available information to support their figures. They made them up! No one checked their numbers to see if they are real and, in fact, they are sitting on millions of dollars in hidden reserves that they don't tell us about.<br /><br />Sounds plausible, doesn't it?<br /><br />And it will be years before Amherst gets another Superintendent.<br /><br />Or not.<br /><br />Kevin<br /><br />---kevinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05982253239243654748noreply@blogger.com