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Trustees must choose new superintendent wisely

The district has struggled over recent years to deal with a wide range of issues and it is not out of the woods yet.

Editor: Our school trustees are about to face what will probably be the most important decision of their term in office — that of selecting a new superintendent for the Langley School District.  Let’s hope they are up to the challenge.

Editor: Our school trustees are about to face what will probably be the most important decision of their term in office — that of selecting a new superintendent for the Langley School District.  Let’s hope they are up to the challenge.

The district has struggled over recent years to deal with a wide range of issues and it is not out of the woods yet. The new superintendent, as the CEO, will need to deal with ongoing financial constraints, labour unrest, various operational challenges, rebuilding employee and community relationships and increasing and declining enrolment (depending on the region within Langley). Most importantly, while coping with these and other issues, he or she must find a way to ensure that our students are provided with excellent educational services and programs.

We need a superintendent who, in spite of significant pressure, is willing to explore all options and consider the best long-term solution for the entire community.  He/she will need to work with district staff to determine how best to address a wide range of complex issues, and then take well thought out and, in some cases controversial, recommendations to the board.

Our community needs a superintendent who can be independent and not someone chosen to support or promote a particular group’s agenda.

With political emotions still running high, individual trustees might be tempted to want a superintendent who sides with their particular perspective. Our community needs and deserves a superintendent who can represent the needs of our entire community and all of our students.  We can only hope trustees set aside their differences and choose wisely.

Mac Petrie,

Langley

The new superintendent, as the CEO, will need to deal with ongoing financial constraints, labour unrest, various operational challenges, rebuilding employee and community relationships and increasing and declining enrolment (depending on the region within Langley). Most importantly, while coping with these and other issues, he or she must find a way to ensure that our students are provided with excellent educational services and programs.

We need a superintendent who, in spite of significant pressure, is willing to explore all options and consider the best long-term solution for the entire community.  He/she will need to work with district staff to determine how best to address a wide range of complex issues, and then take well thought out and, in some cases controversial, recommendations to the board.

Our community needs a superintendent who can be independent and not someone chosen to support or promote a particular group’s agenda.

With political emotions still running high, individual trustees might be tempted to want a superintendent who sides with their particular perspective. Our community needs and deserves a superintendent who can represent the needs of our entire community and all of our students.  We can only hope trustees set aside their differences and choose wisely.

Mac Petrie,

Langley