Schools: Carter moves inspire confidence

Interim School Superintendent Peter Carter's first gesture toward the community came Wednesday in a letter posted on the District's website (PDF).

For openers, Dr. Carter breathes confidence and openness with every word. He writes a clear, sparse, dignified prose. He identifies the main issues right up front: Behavior in the High School and middle schools, performance levels on state tests, and staff morale and stability -- including finding a principal for PHS and filling other vacancies.

Dr. Carter is clearly a seasoned educator and administrator, having served as superintendent in Roselle, Irvington and Ringwood as well as Essex County's superintendent. If you read the letter carefully, you will note that he 'has been around the block' and that should bode well for dealing with those whose agendas are more political than pedagogical.

His letter is so clearheaded and such a breath of fresh air that I am reproducing it in full --

June 20, 2007

My Dear Plainfield Community:

It is an honor and a joy to have been asked by the Board of Education to serve as the school district’s Interim Superintendent of Schools. Let me at the outset thank all of the residents who attended the June 19th Board of Education meeting and expressed their support and appreciation to the Board President, the Board, and to me. I have come to Plainfield for one purpose of working with all of you for the sake of THE CHILDREN. In other words, I am a “kid’s superintendent,” not a political one, although I do understand the workings of politics in any public operation.

I bring to the community over thirty-five (35) years of experience, having served as Superintendent of Schools in Roselle, Irvington, Ringwood, and as a state education official as the Essex County Superintendent of Schools. I also proudly served the children of Metuchen and northern Delaware as a middle school principal. But enough about me, this is about YOU and YOUR CHILDREN. I need you and your support and cooperation with us as we attempt to bring the city’s education system back to where it may have been, and forward to where it should be. This shall not be an easy task, nor one accomplished during my time with you, but it is an achievable goal, I believe. A school district is about teaching and learning, and that is what my leadership team of Mr. Michael Donow and Mr. Walter Rusak shall be about.

One of the initial priorities is the behavior of the young adults in our high school and middle schools, and of course finding a principal for Plainfield High School. Equally as important to us is the performance of the children in all grades on the State’s math and language testing, and other subject areas. We are also very aware of staff stability and morale and note with concern the vacancies which currently exist. We shall be very busy WORKING this summer.

That’s enough for now! It shall be my goal, starting in September, to communicate with you via this medium on a monthly basis. CONGRATULATIONS TO THE GRADUATING CLASS OF 2007, and to all the pupils who are moving up to their next grades, as well as a special note of appreciation to the parents without whom none of the successes which the children enjoy would occur.

Last but by no means least, the Board, Education Association, and I wish to jointly announce that the 2007-2008 school calendar has been changed and the students shall be returning to school on THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 6th. Yes, the first day of school is now September 6th.

Sincerely yours,
Peter E. Carter
Interim Superintendent

I have a good feeling that Dr. Carter will quickly bring calm to an overheated situation; restore an atmosphere of cooperation and common endeavor on the part of the District's administration, teachers and staff; and, by steadying the administration of the District, allow the Board of Ed the opportunity to focus its attention on the upcoming search for a new superintendent with the confidence that things will not fall apart if their glance is averted.

Besides, one can hardly avoid feeling a sense of trustworthiness in one who understands the proper use of shall.

-- Dan Damon

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