Resident Town Hall Information

[Anonymous]

To follow up with the series of forums to get input on qualities to look for in the new CEO, the one for the residents of PG has been scheduled for Monday.

Excerpt from article: The committee has scheduled a telephone townhall Monday from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Residents who want to participate can dial 855-246-7045, ext. 21990#.

Full text of article from WaPo.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/search-committee-hears-from-community-leaders-and-elected-officials/2013/06/06/1e9a2820-cece-11e2-8845-d970ccb04497_story.html

Search committee hears from community leaders and elected officials
By Ovetta Wiggins, Ovetta Wiggins Jun 06, 2013 07:23 PM EDT
The Washington Post
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Many of the Prince George’s County community leaders and elected officials who attended a listening session Wednesday to offer their opinion on what characteristics the new schools chief should have said they are tired of the rapid turnover at the helm of the public school system.

Simply put: They want someone who will stay put.

“We have changed superintendents like we change our clothes,” State Sen. Joanne Benson (D-Prince George’s) said. “Each time they bring their own entourage, their own curriculum. ... It creates instability ... I am convinced that is one of the biggest factors to our children not performing well.”

The committee that will provide County Executive Rushern L. Baker III (D) with no more than three names so he can choose a new chief executive to run the school system heard from about 20 people during the meeting.

The panel will gather its own information, but also has all the data from the school board’s search for a superintendent earlier this year. The school board’s search was essentially upended when Baker proposed changes to the school governance structure.

Prince George’s has had seven superintendents in the past 14 years. Interim Superintendent Alvin Crawley was brought on last year to replace former superintendent William R. Hite Jr., who took a job in Philadelphia.

“When we have so much turnover, we lose faith in the system,” Prince George’s County Council Vice Chairman Obie Patterson (D-Fort Washington) said.

Tonya R. Wellons, a parent from Upper Marlboro, said the person who will commit to the post may come from the private or nonprofit sector, and she hoped the committee was considering those who are “in the business of education” as possible candidates.

“I just think we need to broaden our horizon,” she said.

Others said the new chief executive needs to be a team builder and a change agent. He or she needs to know how to be political without being a politician, and self-assured without being arrogant.

Bob Ross, president of the county branch of the NAACP, said the new CEO needs to change the culture and improve the image of the school system.

“The superintendent has to make this school system a family-friendly school system,” Ross said. “Parents say they don’t feel welcome in their schools. How does a superintendent look at that culture and change it?”

“It’s going to take a team effort to make sure the change is effective,” said James Cole, who works with Men Aiming Higher.

T. Carter Ross with the Hyattsville Elementary School PTA said he wants a new schools chief who is able to not only engage parents but the community in the public school system.

“We need a superintendent to speak broadly to our community and make the schools the centerpiece of our community,” Ross said.

Some criticized the committee for the time the meeting was scheduled and the late notice that was provided.

The committee has scheduled a telephone townhall Monday from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Residents who want to participate can dial 855-246-7045, ext. 21990#.

[Anonymous]

Is anyone dialing in for the town hall meeting this evening? If so, please report back.

[Anonymous]

OP here, I plan to dial in and will give updates tomorrow.

[Anonymous]

Interesting. We got a robo-call Saturday informing us about the town hall and saying that we would get an automated call on Monday allowing us to sign onto the town hall conference call. Since this happened for the last one, I wasn't surprised. I am planning on listening in tonight.

[Anonymous]

I wish I could. I have to work. OP if you can give updates afterwards I would be very grateful.

[Anonymous]

Reminder: The town hall is going on NOW.

Please call in at 855-246-7045, ext. 21990#

[Anonymous]

Just finished listening to the conversation. I was surprised to learn that the French immersion program is lacking textbooks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just finished listening to the conversation. I was surprised to learn that the French immersion program is lacking textbooks.

I was too. I think there is a ridiculous amount of misappropriation of funds. With the amount of money our county receives for schools there is no way that one of the top performing schools should be going without textbooks.

[Anonymous]

The forum was facilitated by Charlene Dukes. Rushern Baker made some opening remarks. Segun Eubanks also said a few words. Because of the type of format, there wasn't a lot of back and forth. The response was typically to thank the caller and that they will make note of the concern / suggestion.

Suggestions put forth by the community on characteristics they were looking for in a the new CEO search included:

Someone with a commitment to longevity in the position given the frequent turnover of the superintendents.

Urging the committee to do a thorough background check and to exclude candidates that already seem to have a scandal in their past.

Someone who has been a teacher or a principal with a knowledge of the system from the ground up.

Someone from the county.

Someone who prioritizes communication and outreach to families

Someone who recognizes the communication challenges with getting immigrant families involved and is innovative in trying to get their input.

Someone who provides a mechanism to get feedback from teachers before implementing reforms.

Someone who recognizes the unique nature of the county and due to the size and diversity, understands that there is not a one size fits all approach that will work. Be willing to go into the various areas and put in changes unique to that area that won't negatively impact other areas of the county that are doing well.

Someone who is committed to finding a happy medium between learning and a focus on test scores to ensure creativity remains in the classroom.

Someone who believes in the importance of the arts.

Someone who will adequately fund specialty programs that are performing well. ex. french immersion schools do not have textbooks in french.

Someone who will work with the administration and teachers on professional development.

[Anonymous]

They also did a number of polls during the call. I am just listing the top answers.

When asked what should be the top priority of the new CEO once he is hired, 36% said low performing schools and 29% said class sizes.

When asked what characteristics or strengths do you think are most important in a CEO. 28% academics, 22% communication, 16% a visionary, 14% good manager

When asked what do you value most in vetting a new CEO. 40% prior experience, 25% connection to the county, 20% test scores, 16% longevity.

[Anonymous]

Overall I thought it was an interesting call. I guess we will see whether it makes a difference when we see who they actually hire.

I have to say I was a little surprised by the number of people who mentioned they wanted someone from the county. I can't see how that would work out well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Overall I thought it was an interesting call. I guess we will see whether it makes a difference when we see who they actually hire.

I have to say I was a little surprised by the number of people who mentioned they wanted someone from the county. I can't see how that would work out well.

Although that wasn't my priority, I do understand why a lot of people do prioritize that. We have had 7 superintendents in the last 14 years. Some of them have been gone before they even know what the county is like. The county is huge and has several distinctive areas that are very unique. North PG, Central PG, inside the beltway PG and South PG are all very difference environments with different demographics and different needs and trying to create a one-size-fits-all school policy has been very detrimental to a number of schools because they are square pegs being force into round holes. So, many people feel that having someone already familiar with the county and the school system would help them get a faster start in addressing issues without quite as long of a learning curve before any real changes can be made. We need a faster route to improvements and facing someone that will take months to years to familiarize themselves with the diversity of the county is frustrating to many with children already in the system or very soon to be in the system.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Overall I thought it was an interesting call. I guess we will see whether it makes a difference when we see who they actually hire.

I have to say I was a little surprised by the number of people who mentioned they wanted someone from the county. I can't see how that would work out well.

Although that wasn't my priority, I do understand why a lot of people do prioritize that. We have had 7 superintendents in the last 14 years. Some of them have been gone before they even know what the county is like. The county is huge and has several distinctive areas that are very unique. North PG, Central PG, inside the beltway PG and South PG are all very difference environments with different demographics and different needs and trying to create a one-size-fits-all school policy has been very detrimental to a number of schools because they are square pegs being force into round holes. So, many people feel that having someone already familiar with the county and the school system would help them get a faster start in addressing issues without quite as long of a learning curve before any real changes can be made. We need a faster route to improvements and facing someone that will take months to years to familiarize themselves with the diversity of the county is frustrating to many with children already in the system or very soon to be in the system.

That makes a lot of sense. I guess my initial thought was how do we go about finding someone that will be progressive about change when they may have strong relationships with people that are impeding the betterment of the schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Overall I thought it was an interesting call. I guess we will see whether it makes a difference when we see who they actually hire.

I have to say I was a little surprised by the number of people who mentioned they wanted someone from the county. I can't see how that would work out well.

Although that wasn't my priority, I do understand why a lot of people do prioritize that. We have had 7 superintendents in the last 14 years. Some of them have been gone before they even know what the county is like. The county is huge and has several distinctive areas that are very unique. North PG, Central PG, inside the beltway PG and South PG are all very difference environments with different demographics and different needs and trying to create a one-size-fits-all school policy has been very detrimental to a number of schools because they are square pegs being force into round holes. So, many people feel that having someone already familiar with the county and the school system would help them get a faster start in addressing issues without quite as long of a learning curve before any real changes can be made. We need a faster route to improvements and facing someone that will take months to years to familiarize themselves with the diversity of the county is frustrating to many with children already in the system or very soon to be in the system.

That makes a lot of sense. I guess my initial thought was how do we go about finding someone that will be progressive about change when they may have strong relationships with people that are impeding the betterment of the schools.

Someone from the county does not necessarily have to be someone that is already a part of the system. There are many outsiders that are not part of or friends with the establishment who may yet be familiar with the county and school district and can step in running. Someone who was a student themselves, or has/had children in the system or are familiar with the educational issues would be a plus to many.

[Anonymous]

If you want to listen to the call but missed it, Parents & PGCPS has posted the audio. There's about 12 minutes of hold music starting the recording, so fast-forward a little to get the call. http://www.blogtalkradio.com/parent-talk-live-12/2013/06/10/parents-and-pgcps-live-citizen-input-needed-and-wanted

As Dr. Dukes said in the intro, this was a listening session (as was the stakehodler meeting last week) so the panel was there to listen about what people wanted to see in a new schools CEO and not to enter into a back and forth with callers.