Superintendent search under way

by Susan Mikula Campbell
Niagara Wheatfield Tribune, May 1, 2008

Niagara-Wheatfield Board of Education members heard a report from their consultants last week on what residents, parents and staff want to see in a new superintendent.

Current superintendent, Dr. Judy Howard, will be retiring in August, and the board hired Hazard, Young, Attea & Associates Ltd. of Glenview, Ill., to conduct the search for a replacement.

Consultant John O’Rourke reported that meetings were held last month with 175 members of the community and that 67 people filled out profile sheets defining a set of characteristics a new superintendent should have.

People want the teamwork and focus on instruction developed over the past 10 years under Howard’s leadership to continue. They also are concerned about the ability to maintain financial support with the current economic climate and the need to deal with the continuing growth of enrollment, which primarily comes from Wheatfield, he said.

Nationwide ads for the new superintendent would immediately be posted.

“There has been an expression of universal pride” in the district as it currently stands, O’Rourke said, noting that results show that people want to “find somebody who can move that along.”

In other matters:

•It was announced that a Meet the Candidates Night will be held May 7, at 6 p.m., prior to the next regular Board of Education meeting, which starts at 7 p.m. with a public hearing on the proposed $68 million budget for 2008-09.

Six candidates are vying for three seats on the board. Incumbents Michele Hoerner and Donald Moyer Jr. are seeking re-election. Also on the ballot will be Russell Brumby, William Conrad, Richard Crossley and Henry Foote. Election will be 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. May 20 at Errick Road Elementary School.

•Board members approved the appointments of and were introduced to Andrea Kladke, new assistant principal for Errick Road Elementary, and Colleen Coggins, new assistant principal for West Street Elementary. Kladke, a former kindergarten teacher, has been an administrative intern at Errick for the past year. Coggins, a former Errick first grade teacher, has been working for the Marilla School District, where she has been the literacy coach for the past year.