Board Forms Search Panel

March 8, 2006
By RACHEL GOTTLIEB, Courant Staff Writer

Hartford's school board Tuesday created a search committee composed of a cast of stars to find a new superintendent of schools.

Former state Education Commissioner Theodore S. Sergi, now president and chief executive officer of the Connecticut Center for Science & Exploration, is on the committee, which also includes William Cibes, retired chancellor of the Connecticut State University system.

They join on the committee Sam Saylor, outspoken president of the PTO Presidents Council; Kathleen Greider, a lead principal in the district who led Dwight Elementary School to a blue ribbon; Bulkeley High School Principal Miriam Taylor; parent Millie Arciniegas; Reginald Tucker, a social studies teacher at Classical Magnet School; school board members Ada Miranda, Andrea Comer and Pamela Richmond; and Mayor Eddie A. Perez, school board chairman.

Today, the board is releasing a request for proposals from search firms that will help the city round up candidates.

Perez said he will hold a series of public forums to hear what parents, district employees, residents and business people want in a superintendent.

Ultimately, he said, the committee will recommend three to five finalists to the board.

Despite agreeing to help conduct a national search for a new superintendent, Saylor spoke to school board members during the public comment portion and asked them to find a way for Superintendent Robert Henry to stay.

"You touched the hearts of our parents and our children," Saylor said to Henry. "We believe we can work out our differences....Children need continuity. We don't need people to continue to walk away from us."

Neither Henry nor the board responded to Saylor.

Henry recently resigned because he did not think the board would renew his contract. He has agreed to stay until his contract expires at the end of June.