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 The School Committee said Aug. 18 in a statement that it expects the unexpected resignation of Superintendent Nate Levenson on Aug. 7 to have have "no impact" on the education of Arlington public school students.
Aug. 7: 'Improprieties' cited after resignation
The School Committee statement, issued by the superintendent's office, says in full:
"The Arlington School Committee acknowledges that the abrupt departure
of our former superintendent has created concern in the community over
the impact it will have on the Arlington Public Schools in the months
to come. At the same time, we hope to assure you that this departure
should have no impact on the educational experiences of the students
we serve.
"In September, our children will return to classrooms run by quality
teachers who are ready to teach in buildings run by our principals who
have been a core part of our leadership team and understand the goals
for the school system. The faculty and staff have been working
together for months to prepare for the 2008-09 school year. The
events of the past week have not interfered with the pace of work or
productivity. We are confident in the abilities of the entire staff
and faculty to do what they do best – educate our students.
"Interim Superintendent Kathy Bodie has been a key member of this team
for the past year as Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum,
Instruction and Assessment, and before that for eight years as
Mathematics K-12 curriculum leader. As Interim Superintendent, Kathy
provides continuity in this transitional period. She has a deep
understanding of the school culture and a firm grasp on curriculum.
Most important, she is a committed, forward thinking educator who puts
students first. Kathy has a solid understanding of what has to happen
to get ready for September. She has a plan, and plenty of support
from the team around her.
"Our school system is in good shape as we head into the 2008-09 school
year. The good things that were happening two weeks ago in our
schools are still happening. Our schools are going to continue in
their core mission without interruption.
"-- We have a budget in place that not only preserves existing teaching
positions, it actually adds teachers in response to record
kindergarten enrollment. Additionally, this budget funds new or
expanded initiatives in literacy, mathematics, special education and
early childhood development, while continuing support for the social
and emotional well being of our students.
"-- Hiring is on track.
"-- Planning for new teacher orientation, the opening of school, and
professional development is moving along well.
"-- We have a new Director of Special Education, Mark Ryder, who remains
enthusiastic about being a part of the Arlington Public Schools
community, and will continue to work to improve and expand our
in-district programs and services with the goal of allowing more of
Arlington's special-needs students to be educated in Arlington.
"We will be meeting with top advisors from the Massachusetts
Association for School Superintendents and the Massachusetts
Association for School Committees to develop short-term and long-term
strategies and a process for attracting a highly-qualified
Superintendent to lead the Arlington Public Schools. We are focused
on developing and moving through a process so that we face short-term
challenges and identify a strong long-term candidate we can all get
behind. We, the members of the Arlington School Committee, are
committed to collegiality, cohesion, and compromise to ensure that our
children's education is not compromised.
"The Arlington Public Schools are over 900 faculty and staff educating
over 4,600 students, supported by the over 40,000 residents of our
community. It is the combination of all these individuals that make
up the community of the Arlington Public Schools. These are the
people who have a profoundly positive impact on our students. To the
parents of our students, if you have any questions about the opening
of school, we encourage you to contact your child's principal.
Arlington's children are in good hands."
Four days after Levenson resiged citing "certain improprieties," Board
of Selectmen Chair Clarissa Rowe issued this statement:
"The Board of Selectmen wants to reassure the parents of children in
our public schools, the students themselves, and the towns people that
our school system is sound and strong. While it is unfortunate that
the superintendent has resigned, the school system is still full of
tremendous teachers, principals and people running our schools. Among
them, we have veterans, like Alan Brown, at the Stratton School, and
Judith Neville at our Middle School. The High School is still being
run by the incomparable Charlie Skidmore. We have wonderful new, but
experienced, principals like Sheri Donovan and Wallis Raemer at
Thompson and Dallin. We are well served by these strong leaders.
"Five out of seven of our elementary schools have been rebuilt, and we
are looking at ways to complete the needed improvements of the other
two elementary schools. We are beginning to look carefully at what
physical improvements are needed at the High School.
"The learning that our children need will be available in the first
week of September.
"The Board of Selectmen has offered whatever help our colleagues on the
School Committee need, whether it is able help of Juliana Rice, our
town counsel, or the able financial heads of the Finance Committee's
chair, Alan Tosti or Charlie Foskett. The future direction and
leadership of our schools is in the hands of the School Committee but
the Board of Selectmen stand ready to assist them when asked.
Everyone in the Town wants the next leader of the schools to be
strong, educationally visionary, fiscally responsible, and a healer."
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Enuma Elish
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Theater. General admission...
