What qualities do you want in a new superintendent of schools? John Ramos by most accounts is a bright, honorable guy on his way out the door after begging the state to take control of the school system because he could not. It’s a damning declaration for an education professional to throw in the towel. Who wants to hire that kind of person? No one needs, however, to throw Ramos a benefit. He was, after all, paid a quarter of a million a year, a fortune by public official standards, with at least a tidy $300K coming as a contract severance package and health benefits to the age of 65 if he does not find a job.
A school chief needs communications and political skills (that means knowing how to counteract pols with different agendas). Let’s not forget for a time Ramos was unwilling to forgo a pay raise while he wanted unions to provide concessions. Let’s not forget when Mayor Bill Finch flatlined the BOE budget Ramos largely caved without a peep.
It’s the mayor’s job to provide tax relief to citizens, especially if he wants to be reelected. It’s his job to look at the largest picture on behalf of his city. There’s only so much dough to go around. It’s the school leader’s job to sell the assets of his school system to the powers that be and rally teachers, parents, students and education advocates on every level when he feels the kids are being short-changed by the politicians. The Board of Education passes a budget, it goes to the mayor for his two cents and he presents his overall budget to the City Council for action. Ramos was loathe to rally folks to the cause of making his case: that a potent education system builds leaders, attracts new business, sets a city on a new course.
Former Bridgeport Superintendent of Schools Jim Connelly, irrespective of getting the money he wanted, always packed the City Council chambers to make his case to the ultimate budget-approving body. Translation: let’s not let the political bastards take us for granted. Was Connelly a better politician than educator? Maybe. But political skills matter because there’s no avoiding politicians, even with a revamped school board because politicians will decide how much money the system receives.
For years we heard the BOE is big and fat and dysfunctional. Maybe. Maybe not. It’s budget has been flatlined for three years.
Ramos had a duty to step up and place pressure on the political and governmental community for more money even if it meant telling the mayor this is where I have to be. Wink. Wink. Perhaps the will was not there or Ramos didn’t have the skill set to rally parents and education advocates to the cause of fighting for the kids. He said very little this year until after the budget-making process. You could argue he had a compelling reason, why bother wasting your breath while in the process of intentionally tanking the system for a state takeover.
He could have gotten to the same place fighting on behalf of the kids. He could have done that, at least. Months before the actual state takeover of city schools, OIB called for state intervention. When the school chief stops fighting for the kids something has to be done.
Eight months ago I wrote he should be let go. In any company when you do not perform the function you were hired for there is a process. Three write-ups and you are history without worry about a contract or benefits. It is sad the city has to foot the bill for an individual who delivered failing high schools. He should have been thrown out for that embarrassment. No offense Mr. Ramos, but I have been in at least 20 schools in Bridgeport and not only are the students deprived, the teachers treated like second-class citizens. The education of our city is also the key to future economic development. Who wants to move to Bridgeport and pay the highest taxes and then foot the bill for a parochial education? Mary-Jane Foster was on the money asking for Mr. Ramos’ resignation when he gave up his responsibility to the State. He deserves to lose all benefits and the city should not have to pay his full year’s salary and if they do he should have to work for the city and to be honest, as a taxpayer I do not give a shit if his job is cleaning the bathrooms in the parks. Someone has to and he is making some pretty serious money. If he doesn’t want to do it he should give up his salary. End of story. He has failed and does not deserve to be handsomely paid for failing. Same goes for Donald Eversley in economic development. You are well paid and underperforming and you have a ridiculous contract. You need to go to Stamford and learn how it is done.
Stop hiring consultants. Stop changing math and reading programs every 2 to 3 years because those programs “don’t work” (2 or 3 years isn’t a long enough period of time to know if the programs WILL work). Stop hiding behind layers of staff (you don’t need four assistant/associate superintendents). Get out of your office and go into your schools and see what is going on. Be a teacher who is a leader …
*** One-man shows are rare in the education system, it’s about team effort & enforcing the BOE rules with no tolerance for failure, student & staff safety. Making the system work & accountable for money spent and parent participation should be another priority. Ramos was a man with high expectations that were clouded by politics & a system that has been substandard for decades! Love to read what BOE workers in general thought of him as their boss & what ideas they have for improvement overall. Bpt needs a Supt. like Mr. Clark (Morgan Freeman) in the movie “Lean on Me” if things are really going to change for the better, no? *** BACK TO BASICS ***
Let us not be carried away here. I certainly would support Mr. Clark if he applied as I would the lady recently canned from Washington DC and I would think Mayor Bloomberg’s educational savior would be terrific for Bridgeport.
The fact of the matter is we have the right candidate right here in Bridgeport. There are numerous principals who have been with the system for their entire careers and have formed an absolute opinion as to what has gone wrong, AND, most importantly, these people are archenemies of Mario Testa.
Let’s look within this time.
yahooy // Oct 14, 2011 at 8:25 am
To your posting
yahooy,
You are right, and where are their advocates? Let’s start with principal Amy Marshall here in Bridgeport who has all the needed components. Ramos a dreamer/Marshall a doer!
I read with considerable interest the discussion as to the personal qualities and characteristics and experience candidates for the Bridgeport Superintendent of Schools position which has recently become available.
While I agree with all of the suggestion, I must note there is one obvious factor missing from the criteria.
The person selected SHOULD NOT BE JOHN FABRIZI.
GE to build solar panel factory in Colorado.
Jeff, you were close. At least the state’s name begins with CO. Maybe Immelt didn’t read the petition close enough.
So Kohut, have you got a Plan B???
So he gets a big-bucks payout from a financially strapped school system. Meanwhile, the paraprofessionals–who do yeoman’s work for a pittance–had to take furlough days. What stinks here?
stillstanding // Oct 14, 2011 at 9:56 am
To your posting
ss,
All of it stinks. And the mess has left the City of Bridgeport in a deplorable situation. Would you say?
As the old adage states, “Those who can, do. Those who can’t, teach.” Ramos and most administrators never spent a lot of time in the classroom teaching and being put upon by disruptive students, uneducated parents and overpaid administrators. I wouldn’t hire a superintendent of any school system who didn’t have at least 10 years of solid and effective teaching experience in a comparable school system.
Bob,
I have a little different approach in mind. At the moment the ‘acting and official’ BOE (unless and until the Courts weigh in with an opposing ruling) is in charge. Have they or will they be making a statement of Mission for our Bridgeport school system? Or will they keep the existing ‘statements’ on the wall for all to ignore. And once the have such a guiding viewpoint in place, presumably realistic for this urban environment, will they create a credible, time-sensitive set of directives for the ‘to be hired’ Chief Executive that can be shared with the community at large, especially with the administrators, certified professionals and all who work in the system?
It seems to me as recently as last winter critics were noting the BOE had not set measurable standards for Superintendent Ramos. Quite unfair to him, to taxpayers and to themselves. If you have not stated your expectations, how can you rate someone in the future fairly and credibly? When hiccups occur or changes become necessary to your course of action, how do you keep your eye on the scoreboard? Talking about “the children” when the system breaks down does nothing positive for repairing that which is broken. None of us would suggest we have “the children” run the system, or at least I have not heard that mentioned.
So let’s make sure the current group of designated adult stewards have their GPS system directed at the same point as the variety of stakeholders currently looking on. Now is the time for them to state and guide expectations. The politicians have had their “Gong Show” running with a flatline budget for the past three years. Even they could not suffer the results. We need parents, educators, students and enough members of the community at large in support of the mission and specific expectations. Let each principal and school staff figure out how to meet their expectations together. Then we need patient and data-driven monitoring of action and results with an open, accountable and transparent BOE process. And we need as much information to be made public as will build a sorely tested public trust. And we may need to see each child approaches the school opportunity with a different background, different talents and abilities, and unique attitude and readiness to benefit. Perhaps we may expect and plan for community resources to support those best who get on a good track and want to use what is offered. Those would be good actions, I think. What about you? Time will tell.
BEACON2 // Oct 14, 2011 at 5:00 pm
To your posting
B2,
When John Fabrizi becomes Acting Super, how will that fit in with your proposed policies and practices for a rejuvenated and renewed Bridgeport public school system?
Doesn’t!
Lennie,
Which is it, $300k severance or Ramos gets 1/4 million per year until age 65?
You wrote: “at least a tidy $300K coming as a contract severance package and health benefits to the age of 65”
Which calculation is correct?
Two pieces involved, his contract salary payout based on what’s left of his agreement, and health benefits. He receives health benefits to age 65 if he does not find employment.
RE: Michelle Rhee. Here is a link to a less-than-flattering critique of her tenure in DC, and not just from a bunch of liberal wienies:
voices.washingtonpost.com/answer-sheet/dc-schools/rhees-legacy-point-by-point.html
flubadub // Oct 14, 2011 at 11:32 am
To your posting
flub,
Not a flattering article, indeed.
Not a John Ramos by any means, including gender.
What are we missing here?
Let’s hire a superintendent of national prominence like many are suggesting, pay them $350K – $500K a year (the best and the brightest don’t come cheap) and then you all can complain about administrators being paid too much.