Will Clark, a labor lawyer with an extensive track record with the city, was just made partner at his Milford law firm. Now he’s leaving all that behind and heading back to school — to become Number Two in charge of the Board of Ed.
Robin Golden, the Board of Ed’s current chief operating officer, has one more month on the job before Clark, former assistant corporation counsel and director of labor relations for New Haven, takes over the number two spot at the BOE, next to the superintendent. Can the labor and education law expert fill her powerhouse shoes? Will the transition be a smooth one? Is Will Clark, er, nervous as he anticipates his first day of school?
Clark took a moment to chat with NHI about his thoughts at this watershed moment for him, and the BOE. Click here for Clark’s mini bio from the law firm website, and read below excerpts from the interview.
NHI: So you’re really leaving Berchem, Moses & Devlin, your law firm, even after you were just made partner in February?
WC: Yes. Leaving that all behind to work full time at the Board of Ed, and I’m very excited about it.
NHI: What’s the source of the excitement?
WC: Well, it’s many things. First of all, I’m a lifelong New Havener. No, much more than that. Sixth generation. I grew up in East Rock, still live there in a house I bought from my parents. I think I was in the first “class” of kids in the kindergarten in East Rock school. My wife taught history at Cross until our second child was born, and now the two boys attend Worthington Hooker – and, oh, I’m really pleased about this morning’s ruling. Our third child, a daughter, is in day care. My mother-in-law was an education professor at Southern. Education and New Haven are just everywhere in my life!
NHI: You were assistant corporation council in 1997 and did a lot of work negotiating for the BOE, and you worked on labor contracts for the BOE 1999 to 2003. What’s your perspective on where the system has traveled between now and then?
WC: In ’97 we were just staring things that are now bearing important fruit. For example, the school construction program and the drop out prevention efforts then taking their first steps are now major achievements and formalized into the system. Now we’re at a next step.
NHI: How would you characterize that next step?
WC: Well, if you look at some recent developments, some recent hires, for example, Ima Canelli and Bob Canelli, these are enormously talented and energetic people. I’m not suggesting that anything’s been stagnant, far from it, but we’re really poised to move ahead with Dr. Mayo’s agenda to meet the urban education challenges we face in New Haven. I think it will be a smooth transition.
NHI: And how will your labor and education law background have bearing on this?
WC: Well, when I was with corporation counsel, and then later as the city’s labor relations director, one of the things we did was bring under one roof all the contracts, having the same landscape, the same outlook. I’m proud of that. We saved the city a lot of money by no longer contracting out the negotiations, but beyond that, made some achievements, negotiated, for example, important changes in the teachers’ salary scale, changes in the medical plan.
NHI: Are any of those contracts coming up that will require your immediate attention?
WC: No. Within the last year or two most of the contracts – those with day care people, the paraprofessionals, cafeteria workers, teachers, and administrators – have all been put to bed, all been resolved. There is a contract with building trades people that is upcoming, but it is a small one. No, negotiations will not be the focus of my work, but implementing the contracts. Believe me, I know every one of them inside and out, and our aim will be to see that they are fulfilled, and that everybody benefits.
NHI: What are you looking forward to most?
WC: Well, so many of the BOE people are just terrific. I’m looking forward to working with them, not on contracts or projects or negotiations, not on a project basis, but day to day. I’ve gotten to know many of them, and not only in the labor relations side, but people in special education, too, and I’m looking forward to being helpful and learning new things. Just as we did in labor relations, when we developed a single philosophy of negotiation for all the contracts, I want to look over the whole landscape at the BOE, the goals as outlined by Dr. Mayo, the broad plans, to see that all the pieces are in places and move forward on them, in, of course, a fiscally responsible way.
NHI: Anything else you’re looking forward?
WC: I’m very much looking forward to being able to walk to work.
Will Clark, who officially takes the job on September 1st, will be paid a salary of $135,000.
Will Clark has a rare combination of professional
and people skills. He has earned the respect of
all with whom he has worked. He has no arrogance
or attitude. He is a wonderful choice for this
very demanding role.
Congratulations to the Board of Ed and to all of us!
I would not even have thought him to be interested, but I am very glad that Dr.Mayo did.