Why is search taking so long?

In July of 2013 our previous Superintendent of Schools, Dr. John Alfieri, left the district for new employment. Why is that date important, because since that time, the first ad, the first positive action that our Board of Education took in searching out a new superintendent occurred in late September of 2014, more than 14 months later. This was an ad in the newspaper inviting applications for the position. Why so long??

One of the primary responsibilities of our Board of Education is to search out the best leadership for the district in the person of the superintendent of schools. This is the person that is the lynchpin with the community, the board and the educational community and sets the direction for the district while implementing board policy. This new superintendent hopefully will identify with Vernon schools and assume ownership in providing much needed long-term direction.

Regrettably our Board of Education rather than responding quickly to Dr. Alfieri’s departure choose to kick the can down the road and hire an interim superintendent for two years. Why? It would seem to us that once the knowledge of Dr. Alfieri’s pending departure became public, the first order of business would be to start the search process. Regardless of any excuses, a delay of more than 14 months before the first ad appeared is inexcusable. To say that you would not have received many applications or that applications that would have received would not have been acceptable is poor speculation. Why the delay? “You can’t start fishing until you put the hook in the water”

Apparently the Board of Education lacks the ability to review what was done in the past to search out a new superintendent, to put together a committee to bring together members of the township educational community, members of the community to develop input as part of the search process. The talent exists in the district and the community, instead it choose to leave it to outsiders, but why so long.

This board has demonstrated that it cannot face the critical issues that must be addressed in our district on a timely basis; rather it seeks to resolve those issues, those critical questions by doing study after study without regard to cost. The professionals, who work with our students daily, know of the problems such as chronic absenteeism, lagging college acceptance and completion and questionable test scores, yet with no effective long-term leadership how can school resources be effectively directed to resolve these problems as well as many others.

We can only say once again “why so long?” Our students, our faculty and our township deserve better from its Board of Education and with your support, we will continue to ask the questions on your behalf.

Robert Oliver and Thomas Friesema

Vernon Township School District Board of Education candidates