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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 8th
to 9th 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.
