HCS votes on new superintendent (Huntsville, Valley: layoffs, middle school, closing)

[hey teach]

Tonight, the HCS board voted Dr. Casey Wardynski in as the new superintendent for our school system. Typically, the vote was spllit with McCaulley and Morrison voting no and Robinson, Blair, and Birney voting yes. As a teacher I am looking for great things from this man.

What's your feeling?

[HSVGuy]

I worked with Dr. Wardynski for many years. The man is a genius. Granted he has some tough problems facing him with the budget, school consolidations and closings, faculty layoffs, new principal recruiting, redistribution of teachers through the system and most importantly providing significantly better education to schools that have been neglected. But, this man has tackled large problems before. If anyone can set us on a new course and use the resources we have and our unique environment of the rocket city and it's unparalleled technology to put us at the forefront of education, it's Casey. But he needs our friendship, prayers and support in this venture. I know Dr. Wardynski could have gone most anywhere with his credentials and received a large paycheck. But he chose here. He loves Huntsville and genuinely cares for our kids. He has my support and I hope many will welcome him and give him the chance.

[Reactionary]

I attended the school board meeting and I'm pleased that Casey Wardynski was voted to be our new Superintendent.

HSVGuy's glowing comment reflects a fairly typical appreciation of those who have worked with Wardynski (!!!) - the only thing I would add is that most people who've worked with Casey say that you will work your butt off - and enjoy every minute of it because he is that good of a leader. This may come as a shock to some...

The board not only selected our superintendent, but also received the demographer's report tonight. Quick look (more when posted on the school website):

High School:
1. Close Butler High School
Middle School:
Either 1a) combine Davis Hills, Ed White, and Westlawn into middle school at Butler, or 1b) close Davis Hills MS to Ed White and Chapman
Either 2a) close Whitesburg MS to Mountain Gap and Challenger or 2b) close Mountain Gap MS to Whitesburg and Challenger
Elementary School:
1) close Monte Sano to Blossomwood
Either 2a) close Whitesburg ES to Chaffee, Weatherly, and Jones Valley or 2b) close Mountain Gap
3) close West Mastin Lake ES
4) close Montview ES

Non-zone:
Move New Century to the new Lee High School

Celebrate Success! The rate of 9th graders advancing to 10th grade (which is a critical transition) improved from 78% to 91% in the past five years.

http://www.flashpointblog.com/2011/06/03/casey-is-our-superintendent/ (broken link)

[pennquaker09]

As an outsider looking in, I tend to prefer educators and I fear that he's going to run the system like a military operation. If he were being hired just to get the finances in order, I could see it, but he's not an educator. He's an economist.

On the other hand, he might be just what Huntsville needs.

[skinem]

I gotta say after years in ed in a number of different school systems and working with a variety of boards, I've never seen a board hire a superintendent with such a split vote (Actually, I don't recall one being hired with any split vote, in my experience.).

That's not a good sign, and I'd be concerned if i was the new superintendent coming in. It would signal a lack of support from the start and it might be expecting too much to get much cooperation.

The fact that they couldn't at the least put on a unified public face on the vote is troubling...the squabbling should be done in executive session. To me this displays just how dysfunctional this board is.

I hope the new guy is just what this system needs and that he has all the success in the world. Whether or not you wanted him, everyone really should hope and work for that success, because if he isn't not only will he and the board suffer, but staff, schools, students, and ultimately the entire community will.

[hey teach]

They actually left the public meeting and went into executive session after the demographics report.

[RocketCityMama]

I am just as interested to see what the plans are for schools that are way over capacity such as Providence. From my understanding portables will be added this upcoming year for 5th grade, and this is even after building 8 new classrooms 2 yrs ago.

[skinem]

Originally Posted by hey teach

They actually left the public meeting and went into executive session after the demographics report.

Yeah, I saw that.

I wonder if they'll be unified at all in future school structuring choices...

[FTG-05]

Why did they have to hire another super? I thought the Dr. Moore did such a great job the way the press has been fawning over her for the last 6 years?

[hey teach]

Originally Posted by skinem

Yeah, I saw that.

I wonder if they'll be unified at all in future school structuring choices...

I have huge doubts about any unification. HCS hasn't seen unification is so long, I'm unsure if they are capable of it, even if it was obviously the best decision.