New Superintendent of Schools

[ThinkingMama]

Wethersfield has a new Superintendent of Schools, Mr. Michael Kohlhagen. What do you think his top priorities should be as he takes the helm?

[standish]

An end to featherbedding and unfunded mandates, were he able to affect either: the unions control one; the legislature/fed the other. Tall order.

[SyZyGy]

Howling at the moon,
Leigh,

you invoke
Super-Man

not
Kohlhagen.

[standish]

Our times call for super-human efforts by super-heroes. I hope we hired one.

[SyZyGy]

standish said:

Our times call for super-human efforts by super-heroes. I hope we hired one.

I hope we hired one?
We?

No.
They!

Hope?
No.

Just another
Board Buddy.

[ThinkingMama]

I thought the Board did a good job soliciting public opinion from a broad array of town citizens with the many forums and surveys.

I would like to see the new superintendent work on the following:

1. Create a culture of expecting academic excellence from students
and (amazingly!) make our schools more academically focused
2. Hold teachers more accountable for student achievement,
reward the best teachers and get rid of dead wood
3. Provide more opportunities for top performing students to
access challenging curriculum at all grade levels and add
more rigor at the middle and high schools
4. Focus on early literacy and improve reading scores in elementary
grades
5. Keep textbooks up-to-date
6. Reduce number of central office administrators and hold them
accountable for results
7. Reinvigorate academics with new programs, opportunities
8. Create a better, more enriching, summer school program which
will be fee based
9. Improve facilities at WHS and Hanmer
10. Keep athletic funding level and make booster clubs raise more
funds for desired programs
11. Offer foreign language instruction in elementary school
12. Garner favorable publicity for WPS and market school system
more. Change our reputation for the better.
13. Negotiate harder to hold the line on teacher and administrator
salaries


The superintendent can only do what the Board authorizes. I hope Mr. Kohlhagen can bring fresh ideas that light a fire under Wethersfield and its BOE to strive for much more excellence out of our school system.

With the exception of major renovations at WHS and Hanmer, and adding foreign languages, most of the above is about focus and priorities, not big spending increases.

[standish]

As usual, Thinkingmama, you live up to your name. I wholeheartedly agree with each and every one of your recommendations. However, I would not concur with those who believe we need a brand new high school. Upgrades and improvements to the existing facility are the answer.

[oldetowne]

I agree with Leigh. Thinkingmama has a better agenda than most of the members of the Board of Education. Let's elect her.

PS - I also think her list said to improve facilities at WHS, not to build a new high school. Given our track record on construction projects, that would be the last straw in the demise of our town.

[standish]

oldetowne said:

I agree with Leigh. ThinkingMama has a better agenda than most of the members of the Board of Education. Let's elect her.

When she reveals her identity and runs for BOE, she's got my vote! A write-in for "ThinkingMama" just won't work.