A consulting firm hired by the Syracuse City School District is hosting a series of in-person feedback sessionsstarting Tuesday, Aug. 16. It’s a part of a four-phase search process they hope to have completed by Jan. 1 of 2023.
The first process of the search is “engagement” and is geared toward creating an “inclusive and research-based approach,” according to a Board of Education notice. The public meetings to get community input will be conducted by Hazard, Young, Attea & Associates.
Vice President Dr. Bill Adams was a superintendent for 36 years and said this is one of five top questions they’ll ask the public.
"What do the constituents see as the district's greatest immediate challenges? And then what are going to be the challenges over the next 2, 3, 4 years or more as viewed by different constituents and how it affects them, how it affects the students, and perhaps their own children that attend the school system?" Adams said.
Adams said they also want to hear about the successes of the school district and what parents and the community might want to ensure the next superintendent continues to build on. He said everyone can play a role in the public meetings including higher education and local businesses.
"What we try to do is provide as much engagement at the front end and it's important to hear from the community, it's important for us to learn about the community. And we try to ask the same questions whether we're speaking to the commissioners or whether we're speaking to a parent or someone that simply has an interest, or maybe an employer that's going to employ, or a university like Syracuse [University] where some of the students in the city may attend," Adams said.
Three of the 90-minute meetings will be held Tuesday, Aug. 16, and one on Wednesday, Aug. 17. Input may also be provided through this form.
A schedule of times and locations for the upcoming meetings:
- August 16
- 1:00 p.m.-2:30 p.m. at the Fowler High School Auditorium
- 4:00 p.m.-5:30 p.m. at the Corcoran High School Auditorium
- 7:00 p.m.-8:30 p.m. at the Lincoln Middle School Auditorium
- August 17
- 9:00 a.m.-10:30 a.m. at the HW Smith Pre-K-8School Auditorium
There are also virtual links provided for those who cannot attend the meetings in person.
