Next Phase of District Succession Plan Rolls Out

With the retirement of Assistant Superintendent John Kehoe, the District's succession plan moves to the next phase.  The following steps have occurred since the Board workshop on this topic in 2011:

• Dr. Thomas Wilson was appointed Middle School Principal in 2012, leaving a vacancy at hte Elementary School.
• Ms. Ann Meyer was appointed High School Principal in 2013.

Replacing  the Assistant Superintendent Position

With Dr. Kehoe's retirement the District leadership, in consultation with the Board, is examining roles and responsibilities with an eye toward maintaining continuity of services and advancing the School's programs and services. As a temporary, transitional measure, the Board asked that Dr. Kehoe assist the district over the next eighteen months.  He will serve as Director of Operations at a time when the District is pursuing major construction and rising enrollment. During this period, his various duties will be reassigned to other district administrators. Chief among these responsibilities are school safety, human resources, and negotiations.

Elementary Principal Search

A search is underway for an Elementary Principal, facilitated by consultant Martin Brooks, Executive Director of the Tri-State Consortium.  He held focus groups and developed the following specifications for the position:

• An innovative, honest, transparent and thoughtful leader who is knowledgeable about child development, elementary curriculum, and instructional practice, has elementary school teaching and/or leadership experience, and understands how the skills and abilities embedded in the Common Core can inform educational practice in Bronxville.
• An excellent communicator who seeks to connect effectively with all stakeholders and values the input of teachers, parents and students when making decisions.
• A firm advocate for the needs of all students at all performance levels.
• A teacher and learner who honors successful traditions while focusing on continued improvement, and who can strategically engage a strong faculty, involved parents and motivated students in identifying and addressing the school’s next level of work.

These specifications were communicated to the public at an Elementary School Council meeting and special evening meeting on January 9th. The position has been advertised nationally, both in the print media and electronically.  The screening and interview process will begin next month, and an appointment is expected later this Spring.

Strengthening Leadership for Curriculum and Instruction

As a way of identifying and verifying future needs, Superintendent David Quattrone surveyed the faculty and again enlisted the services of Dr. Martin Brooks to conduct faculty focus groups. The faculty survey revealed strong support for devoting leadership resources to curriculum coordination and instructional technology. As a result, the District will seek to fill a new position, Director of Curriculum and Instruction.  The successful candidate will meet the following specifications:

• A careful listener and effective communicator who values collaboration and innovation
• A hands‐on leader who builds effective relationships and engages all stakeholders in the development of a K‐12 vision for the improvement of student performance
• A strategic thinker who can help the district improve cohesion among the Common Core Learning Standards, state and federal requirements, data analysis and research relating to effective practices
• An educator, first and foremost, who understands the complex relationships among assessment, instructional practice, and curriculum, and how wise and meaningful use of technology can enhance those relationships.

This position, too, will be advertised, with screening and interviews to follow with an eye to an appointment effective July 1, 2014.

Assistant Superintendent John Kehoe to Retire

At the December meeting, Board President David Brashear announced Assistant Superintendent John Kehoe's plans to retire as Assistant Superintendent of the Bronxville School, effective at the end of January 2014.  Brashear called Kehoe's 32-year tenure "remarkable," and characterized him as "outstanding, loyal, and hard-working."

 In his message to staff Superintendent David Quattrone commented,

"His versatility has added much to our traditions, and his visibility has served as a major factor in building public trust and confidence. John's signature accomplishment was establishing Bronxville Middle School in 1986. At that time many districts converted junior highs into middle schools for financial reasons related to enrollment and facility use. John's successful  advocacy arose from his belief that it was the right thing to do for students -- academically, socially, and developmentally. That belief still rings true and still guides our work today.

I think all of us recognize the enormous scope of John's many contributions to the district, and we are happy to convey our thanks and admiration for a job well done."

The district is exploring the option of John returning to Bronxville on a part-time basis after he retires.  Such an arrangement would ease the transition of reassigning his duties to other roles. A 2011 Board workshop on succession planning set forth some issues and goals for replacing administrative positions, and John Kehoe's retirement follows the departures of Barry Richelsoph, Middle School Principal, in 2012 and Terry Barton, High School Principal, in 2013.  Plans for filling this position will be discussed at the January Board of Education meeting.

Elementary Principal Search Moves Forward

The Bronxville School district launched its search for an Elementary Principal last week, with consultant Martin G. Brooks, Director of the Tri-State Consortium facilitating the process. Seven focus group meetings were held on December 12: Board of Education (3 people), interim principal, parents (19), faculty (32), district/building administrators (3), interim assistant principal, and curriculum leaders/policy board (9). An on-line survey was also conducted, with 61 responses.

The process continues on January 9, 2014, when there will be an additional evening session for parents in order to gather additional information. The consultant will then present his findings, including recommended specifications for the job.  The session will be held at 7:00 PM in the Board Room, located on the first floor of the old building. Members of the public wishing to offer comments at any time in the process may email the Superintendent here.

After this data-gathering phase, the process will shift to advertisements in multiple venues, recruitment, and screening of candidates.  The feedback received will also shape the interview process and a site visit. An appointment is scheduled for late spring.

Principal Meyer Presents Changes to Course of Study

At the December Board of Education meeting, High School Principal Ann Meyer described several modifications to the course of study, including a planned rotation of electives, a new sequence in the mathematics program, and a change in advanced physics. Meyer presented the plan as a way to manage anticipated enrollment increases and class size. The rotation of electives frees up staff for other assignments and also increases that an otherwise under-enrolled elective will remain viable. The following are examples of the rotation of electives for the next two school years.

Discipline	2014-2015	2015-2016
Social Studies	TV/Video Production Psychology	Media Introduction to Business Management
English		Speech and Debate
Science	Environmental Science (non-AP)	Forensics
Math	AP Statistics	AP Computer Science

Another change includes the addition of physical education electives for upperclassmen -- sports psychology and social issues in sports. These electives are designed to reinforce some of the Common Core literacy expectations.

Meyer also described adjustments in the mathematics program that stem from the Common Core. The general aim is to organize the sequence so that instruction aligns with the NY assessments and that the number of required tests is not excessive. The updated course sequence has students taking the Algebra Regents in high school so that they are not required to take multiple Math Regents exams. The major impact of the curriculum change is the flip of Geometry and Algebra II content. It is important to note that the program still has a path leading to Advanced Placement Calculus (AB or BC).

The final update involves Advanced Placement Physics B, which is the College Board has reorganized as a two-year commitment. Locally, this change would limit students' exposure to additional disciplines in science without enhancing their preparation for college physics, which requires calculus. In place of AP Physics B, the High School will  offer Advanced Topics in Physics with an Introduction to Engineering.
Board members asked several questions about the plans

• Will the flipped math sequence weaken geometry preparation for the SAT?
• Will the new physics course would adversely affect applications to engineering schools?
• Do the physical education electives comply with state requirements?
• How can we accommodate the demonstrated interest in speech and debate?
• Is there a need for an introductory computer course in addition to AP?  
• Will some current juniors be unable to take desired electives because of the rotation?

Meyer and Guidance Director Anne Abbatecola responded to questions and pledged to monitor the changes, and the Board encouraged them to communicate widely about the plans.

The full course of study report can be found here.