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Superintendent files self-evaluation; committee members urge more support as staffing gaps persist
Summary
Dr. Jay Cummings presented his self-evaluation and the School Committee discussed staffing reductions and the strain on central office duties, with members pledging to better support the superintendent ahead of a required summative evaluation.
Superintendent Dr. Jay Cummings told the School Committee on April 8 that he has submitted his self-evaluation and that the summative evaluation will be completed and presented publicly at the April 29 meeting. Cummings said he rated himself "proficient" across the district's four evaluation standards and outlined accomplishments in maintenance, operations and the rollout of new math and literacy instructional materials.
Committee members responded with both praise and concern about district staffing. Several members said the superintendent has taken on additional duties following personnel reductions and that the committee must do more to support central office capacity. One member apologized to Cummings for not doing enough and said she will consider the superintendent's staffing pressures when completing her own evaluation. Another member called the superintendent's characterization of the year as "mid" inappropriate and urged the committee to recognize the superintendent's contributions.
Cummings said he intends to use the upcoming months to "reset" elements of the district strategic plan and to work on longer-term budget and revenue ideas; he told the committee he believes an override will likely be necessary next year and encouraged improved public communication ahead of any vote. The committee chair said the evaluation materials and instructions from a consultant (Lou Butiad) will be circulated to members and that the chair will compile individual assessments into the final summative report.
Why it matters: The superintendent's workload and central-office staffing levels affect district operations, curriculum implementation and the capacity to respond to student needs. Committee members signaled that they will consider staffing concerns in their upcoming evaluation and budgeting discussions.
Ending: The committee will receive the compiled summative evaluation at its April 29 meeting; members said they will follow up on goals for strategic-plan work and staffing decisions as the budget process proceeds.
