Qi Xu Photo
Harries at Monday s meeting.
New Haven’s embattled schools superintendent got a surprise defense from the city’s teachers union president — who then heard about it from critics in the room.
That was the scene at Monday night’s Board of Education meeting, after Robert Gibson read a manifesto signed by eight retired administrators calling for the removal of schools Superintendent Garth Harries. Their criticism of Superintendent Harries include his controversial plan to divide Hillhouse High into separate academies with separate principals, his handling of Barnard Environmental, his dealings with staff and the school board and the public, and the many teacher vacancies in the district in the past academic year under his leadership.
After the reading, teachers union President David Cicarella, who has in the past butted heads with Harries, stood up to defend him. He argued that many concerns raised — including minority recruitment and teacher vacancies — are nationwide problems, rather than “something that this mayor or this superintendent created.”
“Our superintendent is relatively new. We have many new teachers, we don’t expect our new teachers to be exemplary when they start, and we don’t expect our administrators to be exemplary when they start. I think that should be the same for our central office folks as well,” Cicarella said at the meeting, which was held at L.W. Beecher School.
Cicarella: the problems are not caused by the superintendent.
Cicarella argued that other issues such as a lack of transparency, financial oversight and problems with administrative appointments are not singular to Superintendent Harries’ leadership. Having served as union president for a decade, Cicarella said, he has seen the same issues being brought out throughout, “from one administration to the next, and to the next.”
He moved on to praise the school system and the improvements made.
But the union president stood alone.
“I didn’t know you have a twin,” from Helene Grant School Principal Jeffie Frazier — one of the signees of the retired educators’ manifesto — said to Superintendent Harries, referring to Cicarella’s open support for him. Turning to Cicarella, she continued, “You spoke for him [Harries]. You tried to answer everything that we said that was not meant for you. That was meant for this board and specifically for the superintendent.”
Jeffie Frazier speaking to Cicarella.
“You can say whatever you want, Mr. Cicarella,” Frazier wrapped up. Cicarella stood up to respond. “Don’t interrupt me, sir,” Frazier pressed on.
Board members who have been at odds with Harries also took issue with Cicarella’s speech. In particular, Alicia Caraballo echoed the retired educators’ concern about low morale in the district. The city has received $14 million each year for the past four years to recruit and retain talent. But instead of an improvement in minority recruitment and quality of teachers, the city has seen talents “fleeing” the district, Caraballo said.
Caraballo.
“You are right, this [school system] is not the worst. In fact, we are doing extraordinarily well, considering the challenges, and considering the fact that we have two unions that are not even talking to each other,” Caraballo told Cicarella, referring to the rift between the New Haven Federation of Teachers and the school administrators’ union.
Another board member, Darnell Goldson, said he was “surprised to hear” that people don’t expect leaders to be exemplary, adding that he isn’t content with a good school system — he wants a great one.
“We don’t have to be mediocre,” board member Edward Joyner said in response to Cicarella’s remarks, “it really bothers me when someone makes that comment. I wonder would you make that comment in another community, and would you get away with it.”
“I’m really saddened and disappointed, because I have some respect for the person who made that comment,” Joyner continued.
Retired educators Gibson, left, and Eleanor Turner right.
Gibson’s call to oust Harries was backed by a couple retired educators present at the meeting. Eleanor Turner, another signee of the manifesto, said she could no longer remain silent. She said is worried as Harries received only 12.25 on a scale of 20 in his end-of-year evaluation last year. He in effect received a C on his report card.
Defending himself, Harries pointed to the improvements in the school system, including a 75 percent graduation rate.
He acknowledged that some controversies over the past academic year, including the division at Hillhouse High School, probably had too much “urgency and creativity.” The mistakes came from a desire for innovation, Harries explained, seeking support for his push for further change.
“There’s no question that I have made missteps deserving of correction, requiring correction,” Harries said.