Statement from Mayor Kim Driscoll Regarding Salem Public Schools
Salem Mayor Kim Driscoll, who chairs the Salem School Committee, issued the following statement today regarding Salem Public Schools.
“Salem Public Schools are dedicated to providing the very best education to every child in our city and to maintaining a strong partnership with students, families, and staff. Critical to that partnership is open, two-way communication with students, their families, teachers, staff, and our entire community.
“Recent events have raised significant questions about actions taken by the School Department, as well as its commitment to open communication and transparency. As Mayor and Chair of the School Committee, I want to assure you that I and the rest of the School Committee take these concerns seriously and we intend to act on them this month.
“There have been legitimate concerns raised about the process followed by the Superintendent and the veracity of her statements surrounding the previous high school principal’s recent resignation and the immediate appointment of a successor. In addition, questions have been raised regarding the licensing status of the successor principal and the failure to share that information in an upfront manner. Finally, as a result of public forums held regarding these changes at the high school, students and parents raised other reasonable and, I know, frustrating concerns regarding teacher vacancies and communication gaps among students, staff, and families at Salem High.
“As I said to those who attended the community forum Thursday night, these concerns are legitimate, fair, and they have the full attention of both my office and your School Committee. We are taking them very seriously.
“It is important to note that, while the Committee does not hire school principals, we are responsible for holding the Superintendent accountable. To that end, we have launched our own review of the actions that have transpired. We are collecting data on what occurred and how it was communicated, including the email information obtained by The Salem News. Clearly, the news reports and emails paint a concerning picture. To ensure we have full information and context we have requested that the Superintendent provide a timeline and report on the activities related to the high school principal transition. We will fully review all information, including public comments and concerns, prior to taking any action as a body.
“As some may be aware, the School Committee and the Superintendent previously committed to a 360-degree performance review of the Superintendent, which includes interviews with direct reports, as well as principals and school leaders who have left the district over the last year. When we analyze the progress being made as a district, we routinely look at data related to student achievement and academic goals. This year, in addition to that data, we intend to gather feedback and information via interviews with district leaders about how they view their role in the district, what they feel is going well, and what areas need improvement. These interviews also include feedback from former district leaders and principals. We think that all of this information will help us more comprehensively understand and assess the performance and leadership of the Superintendent.
“This 360-degree review process is now in its final stages and the School Committee is anxious to study the information gleaned from this effort in order to help ensure that we have the best leadership possible for our schools and our students. We expect to discuss our review and findings related to this review work at our meeting on April 22nd.
“The School Committee has a regular meeting tonight and we will listen to the public in open session and welcome your input as we do our due diligence surrounding the most recent concerns. Your feedback will be taken into consideration as an important part of our work. At our meeting on April 22nd I expect that we will address concerns related to the recent high school principal transition, as well as other areas of concern that have been raised by parents and students about teacher vacancies and a general lack of communication regarding matters at Salem High.
“Ensuring successful outcomes in our public education system is the most important work of local government. Hard work is taking place on a daily basis by many dedicated individuals both within and outside of our schools, all focused on the single objective of increasing opportunities for Salem students. While we have made significant progress in our public schools over the last few years, we know we have more to do to close achievement gaps and help all students succeed.
“It is imperative we have a Superintendent, School Committee, and leadership team in our schools that families can trust and who are committed to working effectively together in the best interests of Salem students. Education is a community mission in Salem and we are, as always, dedicated to ensuring that all students have an opportunity to achieve at the highest levels possible. Please feel free to email me directly at mayor@salem.com if you have any questions, comments, concerns, ideas, or suggestions.
“We have a commitment to our students, the next generation of leaders, to provide them with the educational opportunities they need to succeed and we intend to keep it.”