nothin In Wake of Harries Exit, Parents Demand… | New Haven Independent

In Wake of Harries Exit, Parents Demand Answers

Michelle Liu Photo

Joyner, Rader Harp at town hall meeting.

The overthrow of New Haven Public Schools Superintendent Garth Harries has shaken up not just the Board of Education — but also a number of parents and teachers who now demand answers.

At a town hall organized by parents Tuesday night in the auditorium of Career Regional High School, 50 community members listened intently as questions were raised on the timing of Harries’ departure, asking when the board had become aware of the situation.

Only late last month did the board pass a severance package that terminated Harries’ contract early. Once Harries departs Nov. 1, the city will join Hartford’s and Bridgeport’s school districts in lacking a permanent superintendent.

Asked by parents at the forum for more details about what transpired, Board member Edward Joyner demurred, noting that while the Board understood the situation, saying too much could become a breach of confidentiality.

Bottom line — this board did not come to this easily,” Joyner concluded.

Not everyone was satisfied with Joyner’s answers.

A Difference of Opinion”

Joined by Joyner, fellow board of education member Darnell Goldson, Connecticut Association of Boards of Education Executive Director Bob Rader and BOE President Mayor Toni Harp fielded questions for nearly two hours, tackling concerns such as recent teacher attrition rates, the fate of the School Change 2.0 initiative and the search processes for both an interim and permanent superintendent.

Harp clarified that the selection committee had conducted interviews with the five candidates for the interim position Monday night, and that a final candidate will be presented to the full board by the board’s next meeting Oct. 24. That candidate, she anticipated, will be ready to take the reins Nov. 1, when Harries’ contract officially ends.

Earlier, Rader aid out the basic steps and concerns of selecting both an interim and permanent superintendent, acknowledging that while the board of education has ultimate say in the process, he encouraged transparency in the process. He also noted that some interim superintendents may stay in their positions for two to three years.

Holahan: What happened to Harries?

That caused Tim Holahan, a parent and Westville resident, to later point to a contradiction in the room.

We’re not rushing, but we’re going to have an interim who may sit for two years in the next two weeks?” Holahan said. What I’m hearing is a lot of back and forth. I think we have some significant divide on the board that you guys have acknowledged, the mayor has acknowledged.”

When Goldson denied the charge of a divided board, Holahan rebutted: The mayor said explicitly, The board is not in the same place on certain issues,’” as Harp stayed mum.

Goldson fires back.

Listen, I’ve been married for 16 years, and my wife and I are not always in the same place on the all the issues,” Goldson said, acknowledging that a difference of opinion would always exist on the process of how to provide children with a good education.

Holahan, who later said he had attended the town hall hoping to get a better sense of the drastic change in the district’s leadership, noted that parents remain mystified” by the urgency of Harries’ exit.

Super … Soon?

Ricker: Good start.

Harp noted that the board has put out an RFQ, or request for qualifications, for a consultant to help the board in vetting candidates for the permanent superintendent position.

The board members and Rader assured community members that the process for finding a candidate would not be rushed or forced, adding that they are looking for qualities such as dedication and a background in urban schooling.

According to Jennifer Ricker, one of the parents who organized the town hall, the goal of the town hall wasn’t for getting answers or solutions, but just to start getting various community members, parents and the board on the same page.”

I think that it’s a great first step,” she said.

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