Whitman-Hanson superintendent resigns amid backlash over job cuts
Schooling
The superintendent of the regional college district introduced in November that 23 employees members could be let go as a result of a finances deficit.
The superintendent of the Whitman-Hanson Regional College District has resigned following backlash surrounding job cuts introduced in November.
Jeffrey Szymaniak, the superintendent, resigned efficient Thursday, based on a district assertion obtained by NBC10. Dr. John Marcus, principal of Duval Elementary College, has stepped in as performing superintendent whereas the district searches for Szymaniak’s successor.
“Mr. Szymaniak devoted his skilled life to schooling and served the Whitman-Hanson Regional College District with distinction in a number of roles,” the college committee stated within the assertion Friday. “He first served as Principal of Whitman-Hanson Regional Excessive College from 2010 to 2018, then as Superintendent of Faculties for the previous 7 1/2 years.”
In mid-October, directors realized that the district had a finances deficit of about $1.39 million. At a Nov. 5 college committee assembly, Szymaniak described the deficit as “unprecedented” and referred to as the state of affairs a “disaster.”
Neighborhood members expressed outrage on the assembly as a result of plans to chop employees and a perceived lack of transparency. Szymaniak stated he ought to have been extra communicative and was working with state officers to deal with the deficit.
“I hear the anger and disappointment, I really feel that,” he stated on the assembly. “I turned the superintendent to serve, to guide with honesty, integrity, and look after the individuals who make our faculties what they’re. And on this occasion, I fell wanting that commonplace.”
Later that month, 23 employees members had been let go from the district, together with 5 academics, two long-term substitute academics, 11 paraprofessionals, and 5 non-union employees members. Officers introduced Nov. 16 that reduction-in-force notifications had been despatched to the employees members and that the selections weren’t primarily based on efficiency.
In response, the Whitman-Hanson Schooling Affiliation issued a vote of no confidence in Szymaniak. The announcement additionally prompted a whole lot of highschool college students to stroll out of sophistication the following day in protest.
“Our academics, paraprofessionals, and different impactful employees are being let go as a result of incautious choices made by the superintendent and his employees within the higher workplace,” walkout organizers stated in an Instagram put up. “We are going to protest for our academics and employees with the objective of both making finances cuts elsewhere or the quick resignation of Superintendent Jeff Szymanak and Assistant Superintendent George Ferro.”
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