Cohasset faces controversy over school leadership

Or, is she?

Walsh has been at the center of increasing parent discontent with the way the schools are run. The issue boiled over during last month’s election when the incumbent chairwoman of the School Committee — a strong Walsh supporter — came in last in a four-way race, not only losing her seat but receiving fewer votes than were cast as blanks.

Two newcomers critical of the administrator were voted in: Jeanne Astino and Linda Snowdale.

“There was a resounding message from the voters,’’ Astino said. “People are really upset at things that are going on, and they’re screaming at us for change.’’

Last week it looked like change was coming: Walsh sent a letter to the School Committee saying she had decided to “move on’’ and didn’t want to extend her contract beyond June 30, 2011.

“I was not unhappy,’’ Astino said. “I don’t want to come off as gloating because I don’t want her to change her mind.’’

But Walsh may not be leaving.

Add that to the list of controversies swirling around Walsh and this affluent seaside town’s public schools this year.

The unhappiness started a year ago when Walsh’s contract was automatically renewed without what some in the community considered adequate review. That contract also figures into the latest controversy-in-the-making.

School Committee member Alfred Slanetz said that, as far as he is concerned, Walsh can remain superintendent until June 30, 2012, because her contract has an automatic roll-over clause, extending it by another year if the School Committee doesn’t act.

“She submitted a letter suggesting it wasn’t her intention to see renewal of her contract,’’ Slanetz said. “But it wasn’t a typical resignation letter, saying she would resign on ‘X’ date. And the committee never voted to accept it. The real story is that she may or may not be leaving.’’

Asked whether she definitely was leaving, Walsh was coy: “At this point, I’d rather leave it with ‘I’m exploring my options.’ But I’m not really interested in an extension beyond next June. It’s exciting to see what options are available.’’

The committee has until the end of June to vote on her contract, Walsh said.

Astino said if Walsh remains as superintendent, “there will be some very angry parents.’’

That anger “hit critical mass’’ this year, she said.

“For the first time, we had hundreds of people going to School Committee meetings,’’ Astino said, “meetings that were standing room only.’’

She said the issue that got her involved was when the schools’ paraprofessionals learned two days before school started that their pay was being cut in what was termed a “payroll adjustment.’’

They complained publicly — and received support from parents who said it was unfair to spring the change on staff, especially those at the bottom of the pay scale. Walsh rescinded the decision.

Then Walsh decided not to broadcast President Barack Obama’s back-to-school message to students. Again, parents complained.

Perhaps the biggest outcry, though, was over the administration’s plan to combine college-prep and honors classes at the high school. Parents crowded into a School Committee meeting in January to protest the change and say they hadn’t been adequately informed about it.

Walsh said parents misunderstood the administration’s intentions.

“I think people thought it would [affect] core areas, but [de-leveling] is not being done in the core subject areas,’’ she said. Instead, only elective courses are being offered in combined honors and college prep format, she said.

Communication was the problem, though, according to Astino.

“Parents felt they were being duped and all these initiatives were happening without input,’’ she said. “I think the community has lost trust in the administration. It’s a very interesting dynamic: When things are going well, people back away, and people are no longer backed away.’’

Slanetz said the problem is that the School Committee has not communicated the successes of the school system under Walsh’s leadership.

He cited as examples the district’s improved test scores and increasing numbers of students taking Advanced Placement classes.

“We are one of the few lucky towns not talking about laying off teachers or cutting programs . . . and that is to a large extent due to [Walsh’s] careful management of the budget,’’ he said.

“I think the majority of people in the town are happy with the schools and the progress the superintendent has made,’’ Slanetz said. “I think there’s a small group of people who are pretty vocal, frankly, about anything that’s related to the superintendent. It’s unfortunate.’’

Walsh has been superintendent in Cohasset for six years, and was superintendent in Middleborough for four years before that. She has also been an administrator and teacher in the Silver Lake regional district, Dedham, and Hingham, and started her career in 1979 at Sacred Heart School in Weymouth.

Johanna Seltz can be reached at seelenfam@verizon.net.