WATERVILLE — Parents implored the Board of Education this week to gather more input into what type of person should be hired as the next school superintendent.
About 40 people turned out for a special board meeting Monday held at Waterville Senior High School to discuss not only candidate qualifications but also whether to hire an assistant superintendent.
Waterville Superintendent Eric Haley, shown during a 2018 Board of Education meeting, said he plans to retire later this year and is urging the board to hire an assistant superintendent, particularly one who could be groomed to succeed Haley. Michael G. Seamans/Morning Sentinel file
Superintendent Eric Haley said he hopes to retire at the end of this year. He proposed to the board recently that an assistant superintendent be hired who could be mentored by Haley and others with the idea that that person could move into the superintendent’s position when Haley retires.
The board, which makes the final decision on hires, could decide not to move an assistant superintendent into the top position if that person doesn’t work out. Haley advised the board that it shouldn’t promise an assistant administrator that he or she will automatically be promoted.
In explaining why he proposes hiring an assistant superintendent, Haley, 67, said there are parts of his job he has not been able to fulfill, either because he is so worn out from the daily grind or because of committed nighttime activities. He said he can’t be available where parents are, including at ball games, concerts or chorus and dance recitals — places where he would be able to get to know them and hear their concerns.
“A new superintendent would need to build that rapport, build those relationships,” said Haley, who has been superintendent for 21 years.
He also said he can’t get into the schools at least once a week, as he should.
“It goes weeks now before I get into some buildings,” he said.
Haley was supposed to have hip replacement earlier this year, but with no assistant superintendent there would have been no one in charge, so he did not have it done. He can’t take part in meetings of the Maine School Management Association or testify before state legislative hearings because he can’t afford to give up that time, he said.
He also can’t return phone calls to parents and others in a timely fashion.
“There are days, going home, I feel bad those things aren’t getting done and I think they should be and I think the parents deserve that,” he said.
Parent Jennifer Johnson said other school employees also have to contend with extra work, and adding another senior administrator would not help alleviate that burden. Schools, she said, are losing staff.
“I think adding administrators over educators or support staff is an absolute waste of money and resources at this point,” Johnson said.
The board discussed how to go about searching for and hiring a superintendent. Board member Greg Bazakas said it is important to ask people in the community about the type of person they want in a superintendent.
“Once you understand what you want, then you determine the strategy,” he said.
Parent Carrie LeVan said the role of superintendent affects everyone’s lives, even those who do not have kids in school, and she urged the board to consult with parents, teachers, business people, colleges and others in the community about what they’re hoping for in a superintendent and what skills that person should have.
“Engage those really important community partners,” LeVan said. “Maybe they can help us in our search as well.”
Parent Amy Murphy said she thinks spending money for an assistant superintendent would be hard to take for teachers who are struggling, and she didn’t think money should be placed in the budget for the position.
“Instead of putting the money there, let’s maybe think about hiring a few teachers,” she said.
Haley noted that there are few candidates for open superintendent positions, a point backed up by Steve Bailey, executive director of the Maine School Management Association, who attended Monday’s meeting. Bailey, who also is executive director of the Maine School Boards Association, said six or seven people apply for a typical superintendent opening and where the average superintendent tenure nationally used to be five years, it now is 2.8 years.
Waterville for many years employed an assistant superintendent, the last of which was Peter Thiboutot who now is superintendent of Winslow schools. Thiboutot was assistant superintendent for Alternative Organizational Structure 92, which included Waterville, Winslow and Vassalboro. That structure, whose superintendent was Haley, dissolved in 2018 after nine years and Winslow hired Thiboutot as superintendent. Waterville went back to being Waterville Public Schools with Haley continuing as superintendent, with no assistant.
Board Chairwoman Joan Phillips-Sandy said she has long recommended hiring an assistant superintendent and is concerned that if Haley were to get sick or hospitalized, there would be no backup plan.
The next board meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m. Feb. 14 at the high school. The board may consider voting on whether to pursue an assistant superintendent search.
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