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NBEDC, business community and higher education
leaders help City search for superintendent of schools
New Bedford Economic Development Council
 Business
owners and educators gathered at the New Bedford
Economic Development Council office to participate in
the search process for the next Superintendent of New
Bedford Schools. Hosted by business owner Nelson
Hocker-Lotz, NBEDC president Tony Sapienza, and
executive director Matthew A. Morrissey, the Business
and Higher Education focus group, one of nine community
based meetings held city wide, was facilitated by
Assistant Superintendent of Schools, Freddie Fuentes.
Using consensus building techniques, the group of 13
centered their 2 hour discussion and recommendations
around questions put forth by the search committee to
help assess public opinions, thoughts and suggestions
through surveys, community forums and focus groups. The
questions specifically focus on the group’s perspective
regarding strengths of the school district, challenges
that the schools face, and characteristics and qualities
that the ideal candidate should have. The information
will be shared with school committee members to aid in
the search and transition process.
“It is very important for the business community and
educators to be engaged in such a critical juncture in
the city’s history,” said Mr. Sapienza. “The success of
our school system’s ability to prepare our children for
higher education and/or the workplace has an enormous
impact on this city’s economic well being – from the
family to the neighborhood to the city at large. The
search committee has done a service to the city by
inviting the community and parents, as well as teachers
and administrators, to lend their perspective and
experience to the process.”
Community members can express their vision, hopes and
recommendations to the Search-Sub Committee by attending
a focus group for parents on Thursday, December 6 from
6-8p.m. at the Family Resource and Development Center,
105 William Street. A community forum will be held at
Keith Middle School on December 10, 2007 at 6:00p.m.
These meetings are not focused in any direction and are
an open mechanism for input in a wide array of areas.
An online survey at the New Bedford Public Schools
website as well as the City of New Bedford website is
available for teachers, administrators and other
community members to participate in the search. The
survey, sent to all parents who have children within the
New Bedford Schools, aims to assess: leadership
criteria, particular candidate questions, thoughts about
district/school/student needs, and areas that constitute
salient issues for the community. |
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