I found out the issue of hiring an assistant superintendent was on the school board agenda too late to change a prior commitment and couldn’t attend. I was disappointed to read that there was a 4-3 vote to go ahead.

It’s not that I think the job of superintendent as it is structured now is doable. I don’t. What I do think is that there is not enough information available to make a good decision about staffing the current system. We need a vision for a system that has changed drastically over the years rather than patches to repair it.

The residents of Waterville and Winslow should again ask what is keeping us from combining when students from both towns are currently taking classes together and playing on the same sports teams. When both towns are struggling to keep taxes down, doesn’t it make sense to at least explore the cost savings of combining the districts? There’s a superintendent in Winslow who used to be the assistant in Waterville. Is there a better time than now to consider this option of combining?

Whether we combine or not, we need a vision developed by students, teachers, parents, and community members for what we want our schools to be so that students can develop their potential in a safe and supportive environment. We know from one parent’s testimony a few weeks ago and from others over the years that is not the case.

I hope that the hiring process for the assistant will take advantage of expertise local institutions have to reach diverse, forward-thinking, creative candidates. The hospitals and the colleges here have a vested interest in recruiting people who want to live in a community with strong schools. We should ask for their help in recruiting candidates to achieve that goal.

 

Karen Heck

Waterville

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