Comments (...)Dear Editor:
We at Morris Community High School have been very pleased with the leadership that Dr. Patrick Halloran has provided as our superintendent.
For the past nine years, he has led us through major financial challenges, while we face higher expectations and increased accountability. We know how fortunate we are to work for a superintendent who earned his way to his position by spending his entire career in education.
For nearly three decades, he has been a classroom teacher, a building principal, an assistant superintendent, and a superintendent. As a result of his extensive experience, he sees the big picture from all perspectives and is uniquely qualified to continue helping us move forward.
Although we do not always see eye to eye with him on every issue, we appreciate being able to talk through our concerns with him so that we can reach a consensus that works for all parties. His patience, his ability to listen, and his gift for motivating others are rare qualities that contribute to his outstanding leadership.
We fully expect that our school board will renew Dr. Halloran’s contract at the Feb. 11 board meeting. However, we wonder why there has been a delay in doing so. Normally, his contract would have been renewed by now.
If this board has any reason to not support our superintendent, the public has yet to hear what that is. The shortage of qualified candidates for the superintendency is well known, and we know how fortunate we are to have someone who has mapped out a vision for our school.
With the sweeping changes educators face today, including Common Core implementation, Response to Intervention, and so much more, having stability at the helm is vital. The longer his renewal is delayed, the greater the risk of losing him to another school district that would be eager to have someone with his vision and insight.
We hope our school board truly appreciates what an asset Dr. Halloran is to our district. It is time for the board to renew his contract.
Respectfully,
Morris Community High School Education Association — Joe Blumberg, President; Craig Ortiz, Vice-President; Andrea Gustafson, Secretary/Treasurer; D’Anna Gugerty, Grievance Chair.
