At a special meeting on Monday, July 29 at 6:00 p.m., the Wynantskill Union Free School District Board of Education hired two consultants who will provide an independent review of concerns voiced by the teachers’ union and community members.
“Our teachers’ union and parents have raised many questions about our school,” said Board of Education President Andrea Paone. “In order to provide answers to their questions, the Board believes we need outside consultants to provide independent reviews of the school’s human resources and educational programs.”
The Board contacted educational organizations seeking the names of qualified and experienced consultants—one to examine the district’s Human Resources practices and the other the Special Education and Response to Intervention programs.
The consultants will start this summer with work to be completed as soon as possible. Based on the findings, the Board would decide what further actions to take. Ms. Paone asked for the community’s patience while the district undertakes this process.
“We want to be objective and focus only on the facts,” said Ms. Paone. “Studies led by anyone within our district, even us as Board members, might not appear impartial. We want this to be completely aboveboard and unbiased.”
The Human Resources Study will include interviews of community members, teachers, staff, Board members and administrators. The consultant will introduce the process at the district’s regular August 15 board meeting and provide updates at subsequent public board meetings.
The Special Education and Response to Intervention study will review those programs and analyze Individualized Education Plan documentation. Consultants will also report on compliance with regulations and offer recommendations to improve the programs.
“Our hope is that these studies will answer the questions and help us continue to improve education for our Wynantskill students,” said Ms. Paone. Posted 7/30/13.
*copied from http://www.wynantskillufsd.org/index.php
Well, well, well....the consultants have been hired, the money to pay for them has been transferred, and now we hold our breath and wait. The big problem is--school opens in just 35 days! Starting a new year off on the right foot is critical in setting the tone for the year. We need a positive and healthy environment for our children. Let's hope that in 5 weeks we will be on the road to recovery with an administrator who demonstrates strong leadership qualities. In other words, let's hope the search is on for an interim superintendent/principal who possess such attributes!
ReplyDeleteIt's too bad this process didn't start sooner. How can we expect the faculty and superintendant to coexist come the start of the school year?
ReplyDeleteWhat sort of recommendations do we expect the consultants to provide? Dismiss Henkel or not dismiss? There is no way out of this without replacing Henkel. I can't imagine that the consultants will recommend replacing all the faculty.
I don't understand how they can continue to have meetings about the situation with the superintendent with her there. Seems like a big conflict of interest problem! How do they (the BOE) not see this?
ReplyDelete