Dr. Erardi, Southington Superintendent of Schools, Talks about progress in the last year and what's coming this year.

Dr. Joe Erardi in a conversation about Southington., CT
Public Schools

As published in the Southington Citizen
September 7, 2012

A conversation with Dr. Joe Erardi, Southington’s Superintendent of Schools, provided an insightful view of our local school system that was beyond expectations.   We learned about the combined efforts of the Superintendent, his administrative staff and the Board of Education and how it is taking shape, offering  innovative, focused instruction and correlated  programs which are continually developing and being put into action to prepare  today’s K through 12 student population for the challenges they’ll face in higher education and readiness to take their places in society as fine citizens and in productive work-that fulfills their hopes and dreams.

This incredible story is about the carefully crafted vision of those who are preparing our youngsters for the future.  Selected highlights of our extensive interview with Dr. Erardi follow:

ERF:  What have been the major achievements of the past school-year?

JE:  I can talk about the passage of the plan to renovate our two middle schools and about the  work that is happening at the high school, our readiness program, our ability to conduct a pilot all-day kindergarten program. All exciting achievements! But I am most pleased to point out the strong commitment of this community to partner with and support the school system. The people believe in the Board of Education and the Superintendents’ staff and that the work we’re doing will support the progress of the children.  The present tenor in this town of the elected officials with whom we’re meeting and the ongoing alliances that are not politically-based, but rather community based are powerful forces in achieving objectives. I’m fortunate to deal with Garry Brumback.  The townspeople are beginning to see the positive results of these collaborative efforts in raising the standards for our  school system. Augmenting this effect for actively working alliances is the near complete move to the renovated  new Southington Municipal Center (formerly North Center School). Garry (Brumback) and I I believe that “dollar efficiency” will also result as many work together at the new town center.

I’m thrilled with what’s happening with our high school and with the middle school upgrade and I’m thrilled with our readiness program and with our school report card,i..e, our CMT, (Connecticut Mastery Test), and CAPT, (CT Achievement and Performance Test), scores.  For five straight years our schools have had incredible gains at the high school and consistent gains at the elementary and middle schools so I’m fortunate right now to be the spokesperson for our schools which is in high gear for new student opportunities.

ERF: Were there disappointments or less than expected achievements this past year?

Erardi:  In my work, I often make a statement and write that with 7,000 opportunities every day for 7,000 children in our schools, we have made adifference for every child. My expectation is that nobody drops out of high school and that nobody is involved in expulsion for discipline. We’re not there yet and there’s still work to be done.  But while we reach an extraordinary number of students, there are still youngsters that struggle. We need to do a better job connecting with them. So, this is not a disappointment in any particular program but it does renew our goal of meeting every challenge. We are going to continue our work to graduate every student.

One high point for me came on election night when this community, in this economy, stood tall, approving a commitment of $85 million for our middle schools by a vote of nearly 3 to 1. This town courageously supported a plan for our next generation of leaders. 

The other highlight event for me was the appointment of Karen Smith as my Assistant Superintendent. Karen is a highly celebrated administrator in a long career of success. I am impressed every day with her work ethic, her need to have such a comfort level with what’s happening with instruction.  When day is done we’re not really about facility or maintenance. It’s about instruction. So with a really fine instruction team which starts with Karen and trickles down to our maintenance people and school leader, I’m grateful.

ERF:  So, instruction is at the core of the mission here.

Erardi:  Instruction IS the mission. Under Karen’s direction, in partnership with our leadership team, the work in instruction has been incredibly rewarding, especially in a couple of pockets, such as in the readiness piece of it and in the 8^th to 9^th grade transition. With the high school administration, the team has put together an absolutely demanding work ethic for students, stretching them to achieve rather than allowing complacency.  In my 35 years of experience in this profession, I have never experienced a year of such outstanding progress as this single past year here in Southington.

As to the goals of the critical instructional area, Dr. Erardi pointed out that a district advisory committee will report its findings to the Board of Education by January 1, 2013 as to the readiness of all students as productive citizens and workers.  By December 1, 2012, the administration will present to the Board of Education a completed feasibility study of potentially offering All-Day Kindergarten to all students. The study will comprehensively include: Space Analysis, Cost Analysis, Curriculum Impact, Transportation and Community Conversations.

Findings will be brought to the Board of Education by February 1, 2013 as to a Student Use of Technology Study which will address establishing Southington Board of Ed email addresses for students to help develop a paperless environment; the use of non-internet based devices, i.e., Kindles, Readers, etc. and the use of iPads, laptops, and cell phones (Internet based devices), all in the classroom.

A follow up installment coming soon will include more of exciting the plans for this school year and the longer term goal of Vision 2020, a work that, in eight years, will potentially bring students to a much more effective level of readiness for the world after graduation.