Clearing air on Euclid superintendents

Another viewpoint is a column The News-Herald makes available so all sides of an issue may be aired. Kay Van Ho lives in Euclid.

I was disappointed in your editorial regarding the recent resignation of the schools’ Superintendent, Marvin Jones.

At the end of the editorial, you asked the Euclid School Board to “do their homework” in hiring his replacement.

I wish the editorial board had done its homework before writing the piece!

I realize that you relied on your reporter, who took Dr. Marvin Jones’ words as accurate.

However, there is a gross error in both the article and editorial that has caused unnecessary consternation in the city of Euclid.

You stated that the district has had four Superintendents in four years. Wrong!

Let me go back some years to demonstrate what has happened in the Superintendent position.

Dr. Kurt Stanic served the district for 13 years and retired. Next, Dr. Joffrey Jones served the district 10 years and then retired. Next, Dr. Keith Bell was hired with the idea that he would train Dr. Charles Smialek for the position of Superintendent. Dr. Bell served his full contract of three years. Dr. Smialek did serve two years, but was recruited to Parma Schools by their school board president, John Schweitzer, who is a retired Euclid Assistant Superintendent who had worked closely with Dr. Smialek.

The Board and staff were very disappointed when Dr. Smialek left, as he had always said that Euclid was his dream job.

Then, the Board hired Dr. Marvin Jones, for his first superintendent job.

Anyway you count the years, after two superintendents of unusual longevity for urban districts, the district had three superintendents in six years.

While it would be best for the district to have longevity in the superintendent and board positions, some changes in the superintendent’s position are impossible to prevent.

Having participated in the hiring of all the superintendents mentioned except Dr. Marvin Jones, I can assure the community that the board engages a long and thorough process in the hiring of the leader of our district.

The district always had a large number of applicants for the position, and the community had opportunity to provide input on the finalists.

Regarding your questions, none of the past superintendents have had anything negative to say about the community of Euclid. Dr. Joffrey Jones still lives in Euclid.

Of course, they would all like to be able to pass levies easily, but that is true everywhere. The financial situation is what it is.

The relationships with the board have been supportive and positive.

The board recognizes its collective responsibilities and are careful not to micro-manage the superintendent, but rather give him/her the latitude to make the decisions best for the students and staff of the district with board oversight.

The board has consistently had the same expectations as the community, that of improving the results on the State Report Card, and every candidate for the position of superintendent was asked to make that their top priority.

I hope this clears up some erroneous conclusions both The News-Herald and some people in Euclid have made.

Perhaps if The News-Herald saw fit to cover the board meetings, this could have been prevented.

Now, we should all offer our support for the board in making their next very important decision.

Kay Van Ho