< Back to front page
Text size
–
+
Melrose School Committee gives superintendent low grades
The Melrose School Committee had several criticisms
of superintendent Joseph Casey in this year’s evaluation of his job
performance, scoring him consistently lower than in the previous two
years' assessments, according to copies of the evaluation report, a
draft of which was finalized last night.
The ratings, covering eight categories and scored out of an academically familiar 4.0 system, this year also was conducted in a more public way, in compliance with passage of statewide Opening Meeting Law in July. Notes detailing each committee member’s comments about Casey have been included in the draft proposal, which was approved unanimously last night.
Casey’s average rating in every category was lower this year, and in some instances dramatically so. One category, which details Casey’s relationship with the school board, saw a nearly 25 percent drop, from 3.8 to 2.93.
By unanimous vote in May of 2009, the School Committee extended Casey's contract for three years. He also was given a 2 percent raise effective that July, increasing his salary to $146,800. He has been Melrose superintendent since 2006.
The ratings, covering eight categories and scored out of an academically familiar 4.0 system, this year also was conducted in a more public way, in compliance with passage of statewide Opening Meeting Law in July. Notes detailing each committee member’s comments about Casey have been included in the draft proposal, which was approved unanimously last night.
Casey’s average rating in every category was lower this year, and in some instances dramatically so. One category, which details Casey’s relationship with the school board, saw a nearly 25 percent drop, from 3.8 to 2.93.
By unanimous vote in May of 2009, the School Committee extended Casey's contract for three years. He also was given a 2 percent raise effective that July, increasing his salary to $146,800. He has been Melrose superintendent since 2006.
For the second year in a row, the lowest-rated category was educational
leadership. Although the committee gave Casey credit for his efforts
regarding the special education program, after-school programs, the new
middle school trimester program, and the bullying issue, he was
assailed by some committee members for what they describe as a “need
for serious evaluation and correction” in other areas.
A committee member said in the report that low Advanced Placement passage rates at Melrose High School, along with a drop in the number of MHS students who take the SATs, a need for a re-evaluation of guidance department procedures, and serious review of failure of students in multiple schools to make “adequate yearly progress” contributed some of the ratings.
Nearly every category on which Casey was evaluated saw a drop from the previous two years ratings, except for personal qualities and characteristics, for which the committee gave near unanimous approval.
"Mr. Casey has successfully embraced the all-encompassing lifestyle that the job of superintendent requires," said Mayor Robert J. Dolan, who serves as an ex-officio member of the committee, according to the notes of the evaluation. In the same vane, Casey's performance as the public face of the district was lauded by most committee members, who saw him as an effective and visible representative.
Also evaluated by the committee was Casey’s completion and performance in regards to a list of five goals set for him by the committee last year. The goal that garnered Casey the least support, in which he was given a rating of 1.7 for performance and 1.9 for completion, was the effort to finalize “a systemized communication plan to achieve information sharing in our community related to the achievement of academic excellence,” the report stated.
But not all of the ratings were negative. Casey’s highest ratings under the goals section dealt with the finalization of the strategic plan, which was recently completed by the committee.
Donald Constantine, chair of the educational programs and personnel subcommittee that was responsible for compiling the report, thanked Casey for his cooperation in the evaluation process moments before the draft report was passed unanimously.
“You get beat on pretty hard” in these evaluations, Constantine said.
Reached by telephone Wednesday, Casey said he was surprised by some aspects of the evaluation, but he declined to discuss what they were.
"I don’t want to have an extended discussion about the evaluation," he said. "It's an opportunity for me to hear back from the School Committee members, and possibly presents an opportunity to better understand them and work better together going forward. We have new members on the committee, and I would just invite you to take a look at that score, and how that played in."
Casey said he though the evaluation was fair, and that he looks forward to working with everyone on the committee despite disagreement between some of the members.
"People get a chance to weigh in, and that’s what they do, that’s the process," he said.
A committee member said in the report that low Advanced Placement passage rates at Melrose High School, along with a drop in the number of MHS students who take the SATs, a need for a re-evaluation of guidance department procedures, and serious review of failure of students in multiple schools to make “adequate yearly progress” contributed some of the ratings.
Nearly every category on which Casey was evaluated saw a drop from the previous two years ratings, except for personal qualities and characteristics, for which the committee gave near unanimous approval.
"Mr. Casey has successfully embraced the all-encompassing lifestyle that the job of superintendent requires," said Mayor Robert J. Dolan, who serves as an ex-officio member of the committee, according to the notes of the evaluation. In the same vane, Casey's performance as the public face of the district was lauded by most committee members, who saw him as an effective and visible representative.
Also evaluated by the committee was Casey’s completion and performance in regards to a list of five goals set for him by the committee last year. The goal that garnered Casey the least support, in which he was given a rating of 1.7 for performance and 1.9 for completion, was the effort to finalize “a systemized communication plan to achieve information sharing in our community related to the achievement of academic excellence,” the report stated.
But not all of the ratings were negative. Casey’s highest ratings under the goals section dealt with the finalization of the strategic plan, which was recently completed by the committee.
Donald Constantine, chair of the educational programs and personnel subcommittee that was responsible for compiling the report, thanked Casey for his cooperation in the evaluation process moments before the draft report was passed unanimously.
“You get beat on pretty hard” in these evaluations, Constantine said.
Reached by telephone Wednesday, Casey said he was surprised by some aspects of the evaluation, but he declined to discuss what they were.
"I don’t want to have an extended discussion about the evaluation," he said. "It's an opportunity for me to hear back from the School Committee members, and possibly presents an opportunity to better understand them and work better together going forward. We have new members on the committee, and I would just invite you to take a look at that score, and how that played in."
Casey said he though the evaluation was fair, and that he looks forward to working with everyone on the committee despite disagreement between some of the members.
"People get a chance to weigh in, and that’s what they do, that’s the process," he said.
Advertisement
Advertisement
Waiting for Twitter to feed in the latest...