Last night's Board of Education meeting was anticipated to proceed smoothly. It commenced with the Curriculum Advisory Council presenting their year-end summary, which included positive developments in student assessments, noting gains in certain areas. Unfortunately, the absence of handouts and a blurry projection screen marred the dissemination of this information. The scores are set to be published soon.
It’s important to highlight that these academic improvements are a beacon of hope, especially considering they were achieved prior to the budget cuts. The challenge now lies in sustaining this upward trajectory in student performance amidst the forthcoming reductions starting this September. The prospect of larger class sizes and diminished resources is a pressing concern for the Board.
During the Board’s actions, routine appointments and tenure recommendations took an unexpected turn. Ms. Canestro raised questions about the retroactive dating of appointments, deeming it unacceptable. Tenure was awarded to all listed personnel except for one—the Principal at EWMMS, whose tenure decision was deferred and not voted upon. This public oversight is astonishing, given that the School Board’s role in granting tenure is significant.
Canestro pointed out that the external auditor admonished the board on retroactive appointments. Canestro voted no to 2 grant funded retroactive appointments going back to January.
Canestro recused herself from the tenure vote citing they received a 2 inch binder in executive session and not having enough time to read through it all in the short amount of time and amongst other business discussed. She did wish all recipients well in their tenure and congratulated them.
Witnessing the Principal exit with a bouquet of flowers was a poignant moment, underscoring the expectation that when a Superintendent endorses tenure, the process should be seamless and transparent. A community member spoke fervently against the tenure denial, c
