Remain politically independent.
But stay actively engaged in the community at every level.
Those are two of several qualities town officials and residents are looking for in a new superintendent for Oxford Public Schools.
The attributes were iterated Monday evening during a community forum at Oxford High School.
The forum was hosted to identify the features Board of Education members should look for in their search for a new superintendent.
Judith Palmer, the town’s previous superintendent, left in August amid controversy. The position has been filled through the end of the year by Interim Superintendent James Connelly.
The forum drew 16 parents and was one of three conducted with school officials and the community by Margery Clark, a consultant from the New England School Development Council, based in Marlborough, Massachusetts.
She will report a summary of her findings to the Board of Education over the next week.
Attributes
Experience with towns similar to Oxford is high on the wish list.
“Since Oxford is a very young town, meaning we just got a high school, I would like to see a superintendent who has actually brought a town from the new stages and grown that town to having things other established towns like Monroe or Trumbull have currently,” said parent Tina Aldo. “They should be someone with experience of bringing a new town up through all their growing pains, successfully,” she said.
The superintendent needs to have an affinity for all students, not just the top achievers, another parent said.
“We need someone who is familiar with not just Ivy League-bound students, but all kinds of learners,” said parent Sara Locke.
First Selectman MaryAnn Drayton-Rogers said she is looking for excellent communications skills, someone who works well with other governmental officials.
“I’d like someone with a clear educational focus who can listen to the residents of our community, and I would like the students to always be recognized and taken into consideration,” Drayton-Rogers told the consultant.
Reducing costs should also be a priority, according to Richard C. Burke, a member of the Board of Finance.
Improving education in Oxford is important for former teacher Grace Hanneken.
“I’d like someone who connects with students and teachers, parents and the community, and brings people together with one focus and that’s to better educate the students of Oxford,” she said at the forum.
Help Wanted
The advertisement for the position is running on the school board’s website.
It describes Oxford as a fast-growing town, sprouting from a population of 2,500 10 years ago to 12,321 today. It points out the Oxford Public Schools serve 2,200 students pre-K-12 in four sites, with a district budget of $25.4 million.
There are 173 certified staff and 98 other employees for a total of 271 staff members.
The ad refers to a multi-year contract offer and a start date of January 2011.
The closing date for response to the ad is Dec. 3.
