New school committee chair Ahearn ready for big year

Matt Bower
Posted 1/29/15

“We have a big year ahead,” said Jennifer Ahearn, who was elected the new chairwoman of the Warwick School Committee at the committee’s last meeting. “I’m positive and very hopeful, and I …

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New school committee chair Ahearn ready for big year

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“We have a big year ahead,” said Jennifer Ahearn, who was elected the new chairwoman of the Warwick School Committee at the committee’s last meeting. “I’m positive and very hopeful, and I appreciate the unanimous endorsement from my fellow school committee members.”

Ahearn was first elected to the committee in 2012. She attended public schools throughout her educational career, and now has two children in the Warwick Public School system. Previously, Ahearn worked in pharmaceuticals but is now a stay-at-home mom. She served as vice president for her children’s school’s PTA, as well as on the Food Advisory Committee, which works to plan healthy school lunches.

Ahearn said there a lot of important tasks the committee must address in 2015, including new contracts with both the Warwick Teachers Union and the Warwick Independent School Employees (WISE); the posting and search for a superintendent; and a decision on how to move forward regarding consolidation and long-term planning for the district.

“I’m hoping to meet those opportunities head on in a positive, professional manner with professional staff,” she said. “In order for the district to make sound, fiscally responsible decisions to best serve the students and staff, we need to be proactive and collaborate with both the staff and the community.”

Ahearn said reaching an agreement on a new contract with the teachers union, one that involves compromise, is key.

“Without compromise between the administration, the school committee and the teachers union, we won’t recognize the greatest potential for the district,” she said.

With regard to the search for a superintendent, Ahearn stressed it’s not because the committee is unhappy with the job current superintendent Dr. Richard D’Agostino has done.

“We agreed the most responsible thing we could do is to do our due diligence with respect to the superintendent’s position before the contract renewal,” she said.

Following the abrupt departure of former superintendent Peter Horoschak, who was put on administrative leave in September 2012 before his contract was set to expire in July 2013, D’Agostino, who was serving as the director of special education for Warwick Public Schools at the time, was named acting superintendent.

In December 2012, a joint agreement between Horoschak and the school committee announced Horoschak’s retirement, the details of which were not disclosed by either party. As the district was facing a number of critical issues at the time, including long-term facilities planning, teacher evaluations and budget formulation, the committee felt it needed a permanent superintendent right away and named D’Agostino to the position in February 2013 through July 2014. If the committee were to have posted the position and searched for a successor, the process was expected to take approximately seven months.

As D’Agostino was nearing the end of his one-year contract, the committee decided to extend the contract through the 2014-15 school year and post the position in October 2014 to conduct a proper search, which it did. D’Agostino’s contract was extended because the school committee was considering consolidation, as the Long Term Facilities Planning Committee was tasked with coming up with a recommendation to consolidate at the secondary level. If consolidation were approved, the committee felt it would have been difficult to carry that out while simultaneously searching for a superintendent.

D’Agostino is eligible to apply and he hopes to continue in his role of leading schools.

“Dr. D’Agostino submitted his resume and will be interviewed,” Ahearn said.

She said the committee is on schedule with the search and should have a decision before the superintendent’s contract renewal in June.

“We received and reviewed 14 resumes and have identified seven quality candidates,” Ahearn said. “We will begin the first round of interviews next week. Following the interviews, we’ll make any necessary site visits of where the individuals are currently employed.”

In addition to D’Agostino, Ahearn said there are a few candidates from out of state, as well as another candidate from within the district but she isn’t able to reveal their identity at this time.

Ahearn said the ideal candidate would have strong outreach capability and decision-making skills; be innovative, realistic and relevant; be fiscally responsible; and have the ability to work with staff, government officials and legislators effectively.

“We’re looking for educational leadership,” she added. “Someone well versed in Common Core and who will work proactively with the administration and teaching staff to achieve a good relationship between staff in the buildings, as well as between the mayor and City Council to target fiscal budgetary items that would facilitate improvement in our school buildings.”

Ahearn said the committee hopes to complete the process and have a decision by mid-March.

Ahearn said she’s looking forward to taking on the responsibility of heading the school committee and working with all the stakeholders.

When asked what she’s enjoyed most about being a member on the committee, she said, “I’ve enjoyed being more involved with the student population. Being on the committee provides an opportunity to engage the students at all different levels.”

Being a parent with children at the elementary and mid-level, Ahearn said she didn’t have a lot of opportunities to engage with high school students.

“Seeing what they’re doing in the city and at the schools, and the potential of what yet can be achieved and realized, has been the most enjoyable part for me,” she said.

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