Mount Pleasant 
Central School District
newsLINK  Superintendent Email
December 9, 2015

Dear Parents and the Community,

This email provides comprehensive information on where we are in the search for a new director of special education.

Over the past few months, the district has engaged the school community in discussions and meetings about the role, responsibilities, and expectations of the director of special education in our schools, particularly as we search for a new director. The conversations have been lively, helpful, and the data that we collected is informing the next steps of our journey.

District Goal and Understanding
The board of education and I are committed to finding a new director who is the right person for the position and ensuring that this individual finds success here in our district. We are aware that this position with its many demands, regulations and high profile cases, often is difficult to fill and that a number of the neighboring school districts are in a similar situation. We also are aware that long-seated, established and experienced directors are not likely to leave their current position. Thus said, the candidates who apply for a director position most likely will not have director experience.

The Process
In September, the district posted for the position of a new director. Surveys were sent to the community and staff to gain additional insight into the needs and desires of these groups in terms of the department and who might be a good fit as the new director. Parent meetings also were held to hear directly from the parent community. In October, a coffee and questions evening with interim director, Susan Lockhart, provided information regarding the role of the director and offered an opportunity for parents to ask questions about the position and the process.

The recruitment process continued as Mary Ellis, director of curriculum, and Dr. Adam Bronstein, Westlake Middle School principal, co-chaired a recruitment/selection committee. A total of 19 applications were received and reviewed for proper certification, credentials and experience. An initial committee for the first round of screening consisted of administrators, faculty, staff, parents and students. This group met with four candidates selected through the screening process. Two semi-finalists were advanced to meet with stakeholder groups (teachers, administrators, and parents), the superintendent, and then the board of education.

The Outcome
When these meetings were complete, the apparent outcome was that we had a very difficult decision before us as no clear candidate emerged as the right person for Mount Pleasant. Prior to making a recommendation to the board of education, I felt it would be helpful if representatives of the board of education and I met individually with each of the stakeholder groups to add details to the information we were presented with throughout the process. In the last two weeks, members of the board and I met with groups of parents, administrators and teachers to learn more. After carefully considering all that was presented, it was determined to reopen the search and seek a candidate to begin as the new director effective July 1, 2016. We are hopeful that additional candidates may express interest with the new start date for the beginning of the 2016-17 academic year.

Assuring Success
With the district's vision set on excellence, expectations in our schools and for all students - including for the department of special education - remain high. Our students' success, as evidenced by an almost 100% graduation rate for all students at Westlake High School, shows that we are on course and moving ahead. Ongoing and frequent parent communication is key as well as ongoing and frequent communication with teachers in the area of special education.

As we met with parents, teachers and administrators so many ideas and concerns were shared. As examples, parents shared concerns about IEPs, student referrals and communications from case managers. Special education teachers shared ideas about parent communication, classroom expectations, keeping informed about special education legal issues and directing questions to the right person to receive a timely response. District administrators shared concerns about evaluating and supporting special educators effectively, the increasing number of student referrals, the demands of scheduling services and securing instructional time. In addition, the committee on special education meets for approximately 400 annual review and program review sessions. In order for the new director to be successful, we looked at the current structure of the department to see if it supports the director's success.  

Structural Supports
To provide an effective support system, not only for the director, but for parents and most importantly for the programs and services that address the learning needs of students with disabilities, the following structure will be implemented:

1. Divide the responsibilities of the K-12 Supervisor of Special Education position.
    a. Create an elementary supervisor of special education
        position to oversee K-5 special education at Hawthorne
        and Columbus Elementary Schools
    b. Create a secondary supervisor of special education
        position to oversee 6-12 special education at Westlake
        Middle and High Schools.
    c. The role of the supervisors includes:
             i. Supervision, observation and evaluation of special
                education teachers;
            ii. Professional development of special education
               teachers, including best instructional practices,
               managing IEPs, and oversight of case managers;
          iii. Chairing CSE meetings.

2. Reclassify the position of Director of Special Education to the Director of Pupil Personnel and Student Services. The role of the PPS director would include supervision of
    a. Special education (including supervisors, programs,
        services, CPSE/CSE, staff, data reporting);
    b. Principals and district-wide student services (including
        guidance, attendance, nurses, psychologists, social
        worker);
    c. Pupil Personnel budget (includes grants and annual
        budget for in-district and out-of-district students and
        transportation requests).

Timeline
The district will post for a Director of Pupil Personnel and Student Services in January/February of 2016 with an anticipated start date of July 1, 2016. At the present time, we will post internally for the elementary supervisor of special education position. The current K-12 supervisor will transition to the secondary supervisor position as we move forward in the second semester of this school year.  

Thank you
The board of education and I wish to extend a heartfelt "thank you" to everyone who participated in this process. We stand committed to working with you to locate the right person to join the Mount Pleasant community as the new director of pupil personnel and student services and to ensure the success of this individual and all of the students in our schools.

Best,
Sue

Susan Guiney, Ed.D.
Superintendent of Schools
 
 
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