Credit: Jeff Bohen/LevittownNow.com
The new majority of the Bristol Borough School Board has said changes would come. That first major change become clear late Tuesday when word the school district will be looking for a new superintendent . It was made clear to LevittownNow.com when it obtained an early copy of the agenda for Thursday’s school board meeting.
According to the agenda, action to “approval to not reappoint the current superintendent and to consider other candidates for the office of superintendent” is listed among the items to be discussed at next meeting – the first for the new majority that was elected in November.
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School Board President Charles Groff, reached by phone late Tuesday, explained why the board has decided to let go of superintendent Greg Wright.
“The majority of the board is looking to move in a different direction at this time with the curriculum, further adding the school board plans to bring back full day kindergarten in September and we’re currently evaluating other programs to bring back to the student body which aren’t available at this time” he said.
Groff added that education is the key to success for educating the kids of the district and a change in the composition of the curriculum is a significant factor in addressing how our schools can insure the future success of the districts children.
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Since taking over as School Board President ,Groff has remained quiet about plans for the district, however, sources report, that a series of meetings have been taken place with officials and school board members to map out plans for the first 90 days of the new majority.
One of the issues discussed was at the meetings was Wright’s future with the district, a source said.
Wright has been with the district since August 2011 and currently makes approximately $135,000 per year, according to school district documents. As per his contract, the top administrator of the school district contract renews automatically if the school board takes no action six months prior to its expiration date which would be in February.
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“With a new board majority and new board leadership, I certainly understand that they want to keep their options open. It isn’t uncommon for boards to take such action in the wake of such change,” Wright said in an e-mail exchange on Tuesday.
“After a careful evaluation I would like to see the curriculum move in a different direction. I’d like to see the teachers get back some autonomy on what and how they teach. Their input in the day to day instruction and management is invaluable because they are the ones who are in the trenches all day, every day,” said School Board Vice President Kelly Cochran.
The board will begin the process of taking applications to fill the position immediately, sources confirmed late Tuesday.
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Superintendent turnover across the nation is at an all time high, and seems to be a reality of the job, Wright said.
The School Board will be meeting Thursday night at 7 p.m. at the borough municipal building.
