Dear Parents,
Our young school went into triage mode this past month. We saw the creation of an emergency math camp to address middle-school students’ lack of preparedness for the statewide math exams. We saw Stephanie Clagnaz suddenly propelled into the Principal’s seat, after the abrupt resignation of Frank Marchese.
As unsettling as these events have been for everyone in our community, there’s been considerable forward momentum built from the last couple of weeks:
Recent Steps:
• The Parents Association Executive Board tackled the issue of leadership and accountability with a direct meeting of PA Officers with the Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Courtney Ross, and Nick Combemale, also a Trustee.
• Dr. Stephanie Clagnaz has ably stepped into the role of Principal, already working to fill the previous void in leadership. She has expressed a deep level of commitment to our children and to the creation of a productive, safe and enjoyable learning environment. She believes in the Ross model and has a clear passion for insuring our children’s success. The Parents Association has expressed our full support for her in her new position, and looks forward to working with her to fulfill these goals.
• The Board of Trustees has now heeded parents’ requests that they more actively and visibly address the short- and long-term needs of the school. The Board of Trustees’ newly formed Quality Assurance Committee brings Trustees Mary Brabeck, Robert Torres and Jenn Chidsey Pizzo into the school to work hands on with parents, faculty, and administration to build task forces to address specific areas of concern.
• Parent Trustee Brenda Shrobe and Dr. Clagnaz have already been in session with this Committee to develop the Vice Principal’s job description and to launch a search that takes into account diversity recruitment goals.
• In its next session, the Board of Trustees will accept the nomination of an RGA teacher to the position of Trustee.
• The Board of Trustees acknowledges previous gaps in communication and has expressed a commitment to greater transparency, greater hands-on involvement, and more direct communication with parents.
Next Steps
Management and instructional leadership for the school is now Stephanie Clagnaz’s sole responsibility: including designing curriculum, managing teaching staff, and maintaining safety. Dr. Clagnaz sets the rules on day-to-day school operations, which must be respected by all members of the community in order to maintain a consistent, respectful school environment in which our children can learn freely and peacefully. Therefore, please be cognizant that we may now face new rules as a community, and that we must respect Stephanie’s ongoing leadership and goals for the kids’ learning environment. How well we work together will determine the quality of education our children will receive, as well as the overall success of the school.
The Parents Association will look to its standing and ad-hoc committees to help focus attention and efforts on specific areas earmarked for improvement. (Volunteer to Lisa Trollbäck, PA Secretary, if you have not yet signed up for a committee; everyone is welcome and needed!!) The Board of Trustees’ Quality Assurance Committee will be a new, visible and active partner in this mission.
In establishing a new leadership structure, Dr. Clagnaz will depend on each and every one of us to support RGA and to help her get down to the business of providing an excellent education for our children.
I’d like to thank you for all of your hard work!
Sincerely,
Ian Pearce
RGA PA president
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