Connelly receives raves from Committee
Published on June 22nd, 2005
School Superintendent Dr. Joseph Connelly's job contract has automatically renewed itself for next year since the School Committee did not vote on the issue by the April 30 deadline. As it turns out, Connelly was a shoe-in for contract renewal anyway due to the high marks and even higher praise he garnered from the School Committee during his annual performance evaluation last Thursday.
The School Committee is required to conduct the superintendent's annual evaluation publicly. Connelly scored A's in nine categories of assessment. If consistency were a category, he would have garnered yet another A, for his scores have remained steady year after year.
On a range of 1 to 5, with 5 being highest, Connelly's overall composite performance score came in at 4.73.
"It's a job I love. I feel privileged to be part of Stoneham," Connelly said, thanking the School Committee for its hard work during the tedious evaluation process.
School Committee members Marie Christie and Kristin Russo presented the composite of individual assessments completed by each School Committee member. Highest acclaim came in the area of Personal Qualities and Characteristics (4.94) where Connelly was applauded for his open door policy to the entire community, leadership by example, and calmness under pressure.
"Dr. Connelly maintains and models the highest ethical standards' and treats all issues with the same high level of professionalism," Russo remarked.
Connelly was particularly pleased at his score in this category. "For me, integrity and honesty are the backbone of any operation."
Other areas analyzed by the committee included Budget Management (4.6) where Connelly was recognized for presenting the budget each year in a clear, concise manner.
"Excellence has become almost routine," wrote one committee member.
In the General Management category (4.74), Connelly was cited for working to continually improve Stoneham schools. In the area of Facilities Management (4.6) his openness to parents and the community's ideas for improving safety on school property, following the accident last October at Central School, led to safety improvements at all schools.
The superintendent's philosophy of prioritizing the needs of students as well as his visibility at each school building yielded high marks in Educational Leadership (4.56), and in the category of Personnel Leadership (4.68), he was described as a great morale and confidence builder as well as a great manager.
Connelly's willingness to listen along with his positive relationship with the School Department, various town boards, and the community yielded a respectable score for Communication and Public Relations (4.6). His Relationship to the School Committee (4.75) is in good shape as committee members praised him for providing detailed analysis and informative summaries to aid in their decision-making
"He always makes the committee look good," wrote one member.
"We are fortunate to have a superintendent who has high integrity, who leads by example, and who is always making the best decisions for our children, weighing these decisions as if they are his own children," Russo said.
Connelly credited the hard work of his administrative team for helping him make informed decisions.
"That's a large part of the success we have in Stoneham."
During this past difficult year, the entire community proved itself as part of the team.
"We're very fortunate, in these tough times, to have people willing to do whatever they can to help the kids and programs continue to work."
In other School Committee business, recent, unexpected resignations and retirements in the school department have produced an extra $125,000 for the school budget. These funds were not part of the budget equation at Town Meeting in May since the personnel moves have only recently been announced. It is expected that the veteran teachers who are leaving will be replaced with incoming teachers at lower salaries, thereby freeing up this money.
Finding an area to allocate the additional funds should not be difficult since budget cuts and belt tightening have hit a number of areas that could use additional funding.
This money is helpful, Connelly stressed, but is not a panacea for the system's problems. And though the loss of custodians and shortage of staff continue to plague the system, Connelly remains most concerned with class sizes.
He recommended, and the committee approved, the hiring of two additional fifth grade teachers, one for Robin Hood School and another for South School, to relieve the overcrowded classrooms. In addition, hiring a full time aid for Colonial Park's large fifth grade class would likewise alleviate some of the pressure.
The School Committee agreed with funding two fifth grade teachers, but not everyone thought this was the best use of the money.
Aspen Lane resident Marilyn DeSantis voiced her concern over class sizes in the third grade at Robin Hood and South Schools.
"I applaud your decision to make class size a priority. I was hoping third grade was on your radar somewhere." According to DeSantis, Robin Hood second graders enjoyed a class size of 18 this year with a full time aid and are expected to enter a third grade class of 25 with no teacher aid.
Connelly recognized this issue but stated that while third grade is over the preferred class size of low 20's, fifth graders in September will have classes in the high 20's, if the additional money is not allocated to them. Though not optimal, maintaining class sizes in the mid 20's and not higher is only possible by "squeezing the budget as much as possible."
Coolidge Street resident Marisa Rackowski pleaded with the School Committee to consider the additional funding for Middle School.
"That school is continually being neglected"You need to have other things to keep these kids interested and engaged," she said, stressing the need for subjects such as computer science, typing, and home economics to be brought back.
With the abandonment of the team teaching concept due to budget cuts and loss of staff, Rackowski has seen a significant difference in education between the past school year, which was the first in many years without the team concept, and the year prior when it was enjoyed.
With the team concept, "Kids get to stretch out and find out what they're interested in and it keeps them engaged and interested." The Middle School would need to bring back additional teachers in order to return to that philosophy.
"My fear is that we're becoming complacent. Please keep them in consideration if any spare change needs to be thrown in this direction."
The School Committee did not dismiss her comments.
"We hear you. We hear you loud and clear," said committed chair Marie Christie.
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