Cape parents demand superintendent who will create better environment

Cape Girardeau's next superintendent will face coming to a district where staff morale is low, teachers don't always feel valued and parents feel their comments don't matter, community leaders said at a forum Tuesday.

Two meetings were held by Jerry Waddle, a consultant for the Missouri School Boards' Association, to determine characteristics staff and parents are looking for in a new superintendent. The school board hired MSBA to help with the search, which could be completed in January.

While the meeting for teachers and principals was relatively quiet, parents at the later meeting were impassioned and lively, demanding a superintendent who will communicate with them and staff effectively and who can create a positive culture.

"This district has the worst reputation for parents. Period. We all know that," said Michele Swanks. Administrators "are not approachable. The image has to change."

'Learn the culture'

In order to create a better environment, participants said, a superintendent should recognize a teacher by name, spend more time in the schools than in his or her office, and create an energy and excitement to unite the schools while still understanding their differences.

"He or she has to be willing to learn the culture of each individual school," Jefferson Elementary principal Mark Cook said.

Understanding the diversity of Cape Girardeau and the range in student achievement was important to many.

"We talk about our high ACT scores; they are so exalted. But there is a whole population who has dropped out. These children are part of our community, too. We need to make sure these children are embraced," said Debbi Robinson.

Visibility and collaboration were the next top responses.

Faune Riggin said she was looking for someone "that's going to stick out their contract."

Many people expressed a desire for a local candidate so they would know Missouri law, especially related to finance.

Nancy Jernigan's comment that the school board should not micromanage led to loud clapping from the group of about 30 people.

Dr. David Scala's superintendent contract was terminated by the board last week; no official cause was given. An interim superintendent could be named by the board today.

A small pool

The candidate pool is small this year, Waddle warned. There are 20 open superintendent positions in the state, compared to only six last year, and there are fewer candidates, he said.

NaTika Rowles predicted it wouldn't matter how good the next superintendent is if the community doesn't support him or her. "We can bring in superman or superwoman, but they won't stay" if there isn't a community backing, she said.

lbavolek@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 123