Marblehead Reacts to Superintendent's Sudden Resignation
Marblehead's Superintendent of Schools announced his resignation Thursday night.
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After about two years at the helm in Marblehead, the town's Superintendent of Schools Greg Maass announced his resignation at a School Committee meeting Thursday night, much to the surprise of many local residents.
In a letter sent to school staffers Thursday night, Maass said the decision to resign "was extremely difficult, and is deeply personal and private" and stemmed from his inability to work with members of the school committee.
"For some time, I've been questioning my compatibility from a leadership perspective, with some of the communities's representatives who sit on the School Committee," Maass said. "Given my experience in executive leadership roles, it's important to realize and understand, when real or perceived incompatibility can affect the educational programs and initiatives that are important for growth and improvement. "
Maass' clashes with the School Committee have been well-documented. At a meeting earlier this month, Maass organized a mid-year evaluation aimed at looking how communication could be improved between the superintendent and senior staff.
The only specific example cited at that meeting was over the release of the names of four finalists for the high school principal's position.
Committee member Richard Nohelty complained that he learned that the four names were released to the media while he was sitting in the audience at a school function. When asked about the finalists, he said he could not comment because he had been bound to confidentiality in a memo from the superintendent.
"Given that my leadership style is collaborative, and one that I would label "organic," the conflicts that are occurring, I believe, will have a negative impact on the completion of a quality K-12 curriculum and instructional evaluation of this curriculum," Maass said in his email to staff members.
The decision has come to a surprise to many of our Facebook followers. Here's what some of them had to say Friday morning:
- Kelly Hanlon Rigby: This is really a disgrace on our town. If we want the best schools, we need to have people willing to make the difficult changes needed. And we need a school committee working with the sole objective of improving things in a cooperative fashion.
- Nancy Pierce Smith: Well lets hope they have something in his contract that states he is responsible to pay back the town the 10k it cost to move him here from wisconsin. I hope there is something that states this if he resigns before his contract is up. But probably not because marblehead is in the "black" budget wise so no worries here just move along.
- Jeff Williams: I think rather than try and get the 7k in relo back from him, MHD should try and get it back from the gaggle of goofs we elected to the committee. Nobody wants to work with them. They are self centered, short sighted and act like a pack of spoiled childeren. Go to one of ther meetings...
- Jocelyn Cook: Didnt he just get hired like 2 years ago?
- Celia Martin: What happend to the days of the Super staying forever? I grew up in MHD and that's how it always was. I think the town needs to look at the real problem here...
In March of 2011, Maass entered into a three-year contract with the School Committee at an annual salary of $179,000, replacing Paul Dulac, who retired after four years at the post.
Maass obtained a doctorate in educational administration from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and earned his bachelor’s degree in physical education from the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh.
Maass has been in education for 36 years and started his career in Wisconson as a physical education and health teacher before accepting his first principalship in Iowa, where he spent seven years running a small k-12 school system.
Dones1968
12:16 pm on Friday, March 22, 2013
This article should be required reading for everyone who thinks this only happens in Swampscott.
Glenn Paster
1:50 pm on Friday, March 22, 2013
I agree Dones1968. This is eerily similar to our situation. The laws that govern the actions and responsibilities of school committee members are very clear. However, it appears that in both instances, one or more school committee members overstepped (knowingly) their legal roles. As parents and community members, we care deeply about our children and their schools. Superintendents are responsible for the entire district, administrative staff, educators and the ever expanding data requirements of the Commonwealth. They are on-call 24/7/365, and run a multi-million dollar business with limited avenues to raise additional resources. All, while dealing with an ever changing board of directors (school committee members) who have multiple personal views and agenda. Many people, myself included, appreciate the time, energy and sacrifice it takes to serve publicly. However, what has enraged a strong majority of the community is the manner our elected school committee handled its business. The SC has the legal right to renew or terminate the contract of the Superintendent, (it's the only position they control). However, trying to go behind the back of the community and senior district administrators, having closed door meetings with individuals regarding a new position, is not acceptable behavior, and not legal. It will be interesting to watch. Please vote on election day.
Maureen
7:01 pm on Friday, March 22, 2013
Glenn,
This is not the same at all. Our current Superintendent will not return in an "Operations" capacity next year. The actions the current members took to try to keep Mr. Millington in the district were well within their rights. You know as well as I that they could have legally offered him the Superintendent position as of July 1. Frankly, I applauded the efforts by some of the SC members in their attempt to promote a Principal who did an excellent job at the high school over the past three years. What better job interview could be set up?
We each have every right to an opinion on this but to say that their actions enraged a vast majority of the community is simply your opinion. I contend otherwise.
Maureen Thomsen
Restless
7:55 pm on Friday, March 22, 2013
Thank you Maureen. This witch hunt of the SC is getting out of control. While a lot of people, myself included, wish things had been done in a better way I do believe they had the best of intentions in trying to retain Mr Millington and that they did nothing illegal.
Mary DeChillo
10:11 am on Monday, March 25, 2013
Mary DeChillo
2:22 pm on Sunday, March 24, 2013
Our town charter (adopted by the town voters in 2002) clearly delineates the town governance structure. The Charter specifically states that the BOS is not to become involve in day to day management of the town; they are to go through the town administrator, not directly to the department heads, with any requests or questions. Personnel matters, such as hiring, supervising, evaluating and terminating town employees is the domain of the town administrator, not the BOS. Likewise, the School Committee's responsibilities are spelled out by state statute under the Educational Reform Act of 1993--1) to hire, evaluate and terminate (when needed, based on a written performance evaluation) ONLY the superintendent; 2)to approve educational policy put forth by the superintendent; 3) to pass an operating budge for the schools. The School Committee, under Ed Reform of 1993, should not talk directly with administrators, faculty or staff about school related issues--all communication should go through the superintendent. No "reaching down" by the SC outside the SC's role should occur as it undermines the system as a whole.
In either case the BOS and SC need to avail themselves,if they have not already, trainings on governance offered by the Mass Municipal Association and the Mass Association of School Committees.
Whether it is the BOS or the SC, it is imperative that they know and maintain their roles and not attempt to micromanage.
Maureen
7:20 pm on Monday, March 25, 2013
Mary,
I am well aware of the role and responsibilities of the SC.
The Superintendent resigned. The SC has the right to seek a replacement. It was not "reaching down" to speak to a potential candidate for the position.
Maureen
Citizen Swamp
6:31 am on Tuesday, March 26, 2013
MT,
You say the Swampscott Superintendent resigned? That is now it is perceived? If in fact she did resign, why wasn't it accepted instead of creating the new position for her?
CS
Pat Gorham
10:08 pm on Monday, March 25, 2013
I am not knowledgeable enough to comment on the laws or procedures. I can only say, based on my personal experience at the high school, that if you are trying to keep an administrator who is as excellent as Layne Millington, it is not reaching down. It is reaching up. We were fortunate to have Layne for the the time that we did.