Superintendent Update
As you may be aware, there have been concerns raised recently from parents and staff related to the effectiveness of elementary principals covering multiple buildings. The Board and our Administrative team have heard from several interested groups. We have listened carefully to the issues raised, and we have gathered additional feedback from parents and staff. Please know that we value and appreciate the care and concern expressed throughout several meetings, and we share the mutual purpose of helping students reach their full potential in a safe and secure environment.
Be assured that the concerns raised have been carefully considered, and several options have been discussed with the Board to help us address these concerns. As a result of feedback and discussion, I will be recommending the following actions for approval at the upcoming December 19th Board Meeting:
• Hire two elementary principal positions for the remainder of the school year
• Assign existing principals accordingly – John Zucal (Central), Jackie Triplett (South and PreSchool), Christina Ziga-Budd (To Be Determined) New Hires for the remainder of the school year (To Be Determined)
If approved, the changes would be effective upon return from Christmas break on January 2, 2017.
I feel confident that the additions I will recommend at the upcoming Board meeting will help us improve and resolve some issues that we’ve been experiencing with the new structure implemented this fall. We still want to strive for equitable education throughout our neighborhood elementary schools while preserving the unique culture and pride of each building. The principal additions for the remainder of the year will help us accomplish our goals and provide us an opportunity to continue to evaluate the best structure for our district in the future.
In addition to building leadership, we have spent significant time reviewing our safety plans internally and with our law enforcement and fire protection departments. While you can be assured that we have safety plans in place, we identified some areas for improvement. As a result, we are committed to increased training and communication to bring absolute clarity to responsibilities and protocols within each building. Finally, we have also revisited and confirmed plans and protocols with our local law enforcement and fire protection departments.
Thank you again for your concern, feedback, and dedication to helping New Philadelphia City Schools be the best we can be.
Your commitment and contributions are much appreciated!
Dave Brand
Superintendent/CEO
Posted: Monday, December 12, 2016