Resident Urges School Committee To Reconsider Superintendent Decision

Lynnfield resident Lauri Priestley delivered the following statement at Wednesday evening's School Committee meeting. Committee members met to discuss the general qualities that residents said they desire in a new superintendent, following the community forums that took place in town earlier in October.  

The School Committee announced this summer that it would not seek to renew the contract of Dr. Thomas Jefferson, whose current contract expires on June 30, 2014. 

Below is the statement Priestley read at the end of the meeting:

I would like to express my concerns regarding the School committee not taking appropriate action to retain Dr. Jefferson as the Lynnfield Superintendent. As a parent with school age children, I have had children in the Lynnfield School system under the direction of 3 Superintendents. I feel this board did an exceptional job in searching for and bringing Dr. Jefferson to Lynnfield. I have followed his leadership of the school system since his arrival and was impressed since day 1 so I was shocked to hear that this same boards inaction will lead to him leaving Lynnfield.

1) From speaking with my children and other children in the district, the feeling was overwhelming that Dr. Jefferson is an excellent representative for the school department in both the community and the schools.

As examples of his commitment, dedication and success as a superintendent , I cite the following observations;

a. Probably the most powerful of all would be the words from this committee. On April 30, 2012, the school committee issued its only published evaluation of Dr. Jefferson in attaining goals. The results were as follows;

i. Communication – Proficient

ii. Review of Academic Structure and Support Mechanisms – Proficient

iii. Curriculum and Instruction – Exemplary

iv. Budget/Financial – Exemplary, his sound fiscal management even allowed the implementation on the ipad initiative desired by this committee.

v. Policy – Proficient

vi. General Comments – and I quote “Members were impressed with what had been accomplished during his first year in the position. His approach of “evolution, not revolution” was appropriate for coming into the district. He has engaged the community, is approachable and a good listener. His sense of humor, humility and welcoming attitude puts people at ease. He has been energetic, and thoughtful and thorough in his entry to Lynnfield. He is entrepreneurial in his approach, looking for ways to make positive change with available resources. His depth of knowledge on relevant topics is impressive.”

2) Dr Jefferson has an open door policy for any parent or student.

3) He actually takes the time to go to the schools on a regular basis to visit and eat lunch with the students and develop one-to-one relationships with them. Very few students in other communities even know the name of the superintendent, never mind actually having the superintendent know their name.

4) Attends most school events

5) Took it upon himself to be the school advisor to the LHS Rotary Interact Club

6) He developed relationships with many parents and citizens in the community and as a result, became well respected and liked community leader.

7) He is the first superintendent in decades to immerse himself in the community by joining the Rotary Club and being and active and engaging member.

8) Organized a dinner sponsored by the Rotary Club for a homeless shelter and brought in Rotary Members and LHS Interact members to help feed the homeless.

9) Attended every Interact Club event.

10) Although SAT scores can vary from year to year and not necessarily show a trend, comparing the 2010-2011 SAT results where Dr Jefferson was not in Lynnfield yet, compared to 2011-2012 which was the first year Dr Jefferson was in Lynnfield, the results, as taken from the Mass DOE web site were:

Reading Writing Math Total

2010-2011 511 522 546 1579

2011-2012 536 542 560 1638

Difference PLUS 25 PLUS 20 PLUS 16 PLUS 59

(3.7%)

11) On a district wide basis, the MCAS results have remained strong and stable.

12) Dr. Jefferson has created stability in this position and the Lynnfield School Department. He was the result of a long-term thorough search and brought in for the long haul, not to work 2 or 3 years to pad his pension and leave.

Dr. Jefferson has proven his commitment to Lynnfield and I feel it appropriate that we return the favor. If this committee found some egregious reason that he should be replaced, then they should have immediately removed him from office. Barring any specific reason to terminate his employment, the citizens and more specifically the parents of the school children at the very least deserve an open and public explanation for the committee’s inaction to re-negotiate a contract extension for Dr. Jefferson. The decision and discussion to not extend Dr. Jeffersons contract has never taken place in a public meeting and minutes of an executive session on this topic showed no details of the reason or reasons this decision was made. There isn’t even a record of a vote ever being taken on this subject. I am petitioning this Committee to provide the public with a reasonable explanation of this inaction and further move that Dr. Jefferson has all the qualifications that your survey will disclose Lynnfield needs and should be reconsidered for a contract extension.