NEW CASTLE —
On Oct. 25, New Castle school district superintendent George Gabriel announced his retirement.
The move was effective at the end of January, and a majority on the city school board accepted Gabriel’s letter.
But here we are, more than six weeks later, and the school board has yet to act in any meaningful manner in terms of finding Gabriel’s replacement.
That’s puzzling, considering the importance of the superintendent post in any school district. It’s doubly so in New Castle with assorted issues at hand — not the least of which are plans to consolidate the district’s elementary schools at the Lockley site and pursue a major construction project.
You would think there would be some sense of urgency about having a new superintendent in place to deal effectively with such matters.
But it was only this week that newly elected board president David DiGiammarino solicited input from fellow school directors about how to proceed. Action to pursue a replacement for Gabriel likely will not begin until January.
Hiring a new superintendent is one of the most important matters any school board will be called upon to perform. We suspect the lack of activity in New Castle stems from the larger communications issues in the district that we have cited in the past.
Taking the helm of the board this month, DiGiammarino has the chance to set matters straight. Not only does that mean getting the process moving. It also means working to ensure the selection of a new superintendent takes place in a responsible and open manner.
It was noted this week that the local intermediate unit offers its services to area school districts when it comes to developing a search process for superintendents. We certainly encourage the New Castle board to take advantage of this resource.
Furthermore, we urge board members to view this moment as an opportunity for preparing the district for the serious challenges that lie ahead.
These include not only the ongoing struggle to maintain and improve education in the community, but to do so amid times of significant fiscal uncertainty.
New Castle will need an effective superintendent who can successfully face these and other challenges in the coming years. Plus, that superintendent — along with the district as a whole — will require the confidence of the larger community in order to achieve these goals.
This is why the process used to select the new superintendent is so important. The public needs to know the board is doing everything possible to entice the most qualified candidates. Rather than a process that’s merely another political appointment, the board must conduct a serious and broad-based search.
And it needs to do so with all deliberate speed.
New Castle
Related Photos
-
George Gabriel
Discussion
Our Opinion: City school board must act openly and aggressively to fill post
- New Castle
-
-
Own a piece of history: Watch the trailer for ’Canes’ DVD!
Relive all the magic of New Castle High’s WPIAL championship basketball season by purchasing a collectible DVD or special section that was given out at the team’s banquet. Both were produced by the New Castle News!
-
New Castle offering summer school
The New Castle school board approved plans for summer school classes. The district will offer summer school to children in kindergarten through third grade with a $10,000 grant the district received from the Hoyt, Carolyn Knox and Community foundations.
-
Our Opinion: State audit says city school district failed to collect from non-residents
Audit information about non-resident students who didn’t pay tuition at New Castle raises more questions than it answers. At least so far. We expect more details when the Pennsylvania auditor general’s office completes its report and the New Castle school district provides its response.
-
New Castle Schools: District answers two state audit findings
New Castle school district administration answered two of the findings in a state auditor general’s preliminary report. The audit, which has not yet been finalized, covered the 2009-10 and 2010-11 school years. The preliminary report also contains an observation, which the district answered.
-
New Castle Schools: Finding pinpoints nonpaying out-of-district pupils
New Castle school board members are waiting for the final determinations of a state audit that contained three preliminary findings. Earlier this month the board publicly discussed those findings from the 2009-10 and 2010-11 school years, and the district administration has responded to two of them to the Pennsylvania Department of the Auditor General.
-
Primary 2013: School board candidate tops campaign spending
Historically, spending by school board candidates has paled in comparison to those running for other local offices. But not this year, at least with one candidate — George J. Gabriel.
-
Our Opinion: We endorse candidates for New Castle board
The New Castle school district is often a study in contrasts. There are complaints about the district on everything from taxes to nepotism, from test scores to ethical slights. Yet at the same time, plenty of students within the district excel. It’s a tribute to the hard work of those students, their families and the educators who support them.
-
New Castle Basketball: Former 'Canes' standout to play professionally
New Castle High graduate and Slippery Rock University basketball standout Devin Taylor is going pro. Taylor signed a professional contract yesterday to play for the Etzella Ettelbruck Basketball Club in Luxembourg for the 2013-2014 season.
-
Making a Difference: Custodian makes clean sweep of kids’ hearts
When Croton Pre-Kindergarten Center students recess for summer vacation next month, “Mr. Pete” will walk out the door with them. And it will be for the last time.
-
Emergency school calls show lack of foresight
Editor, The News: On April 30, we had the horrible experience of being alerted by phone that our daughter, a student at George Washington, was one of 700 students relocated to tennis courts because of a gas line break and could be picked up there.
- More New Castle Headlines
-
