Published: July 16, 2009 11:37 am      

New Albany-Floyd Central prepares to name superintendent

The second of the remaining two candidates vying for the superintendent post at New Albany-Floyd County Consolidated School Corp. answered questions and talked to teachers, staff members and residents at two meetings Wednesday.

However, that isn’t making the decision any easier for many, who say it’s a tough choice between Bruce Hibbard, who met the public Wednesday, and Cathlin Gray, who came Monday.

“I think we have two really strong candidates,” said Roger Whaley, school board president. “To be honest with you, I think the board is going to have a very difficult situation [deciding]. I think either candidate is going to take us places we’ve never been before.”

Those in the audience agreed.

“I would have a hard time making a selection,” said Mark Kessans, president of the teachers’ association. “I think both of them have their own strong points. It’s too bad we can’t take the best of both of them and then we’d have a super superintendent.”

“It’s hard. I think they’re both very good candidates,” said Patty Lee, president of the bus drivers’ association. “Maybe we can have them face off in a debate.”

“They’re both just so good. I’m just glad I’m not making that decision,” said Jane Spainhour, who works in food service.

However, there was at least one who was decided, but not talking.

“I’m definitely leaning one direction over the other, but both will be excellent,” said Barbara Bridgwater, with Youth Count.

Hibbard — who is the assistant superintendent for the Metropolitan School District of Washington Township in Indianapolis — answered submitted and spontaneous questions at Fairmont Elementary before moving on to Highland Hills Middle School, where he did the same for another audience. Questions at Fairmont varied, dealing with split classes, school safety and dropout prevention.



SPLIT CLASSES

The first question dealt with Fairmont having multiple split classes and how to deal with the challenges that presents.

Hibbard said that in the district he’s in, there are some split classes because of not having the resources to hire another teacher.

“If you have really qualified, highly effective teachers, it can work,” Hibbard said. “Is it what we want to do? Certainly not what we would like to do, but sometimes, as you know and everybody knows, sometimes we have to do difficult things.”

He added that the central office and principal need to make sure to support the teacher, such as by providing professional development and training.



SCHOOL SAFETY

Another asked Hibbard about his thoughts on SROs, or school resource officers.

Hibbard said he is familiar with SROs and that they have become a critical part of schools.

“School safety is No. 1,” Hibbard said. “The second is what we’re doing to impact their learning.”



DROPOUT PREVENTION

Hibbard also was asked to explain his involvement with dropout prevention.

Hibbard said he helped identify kids at risk of dropping out in the eighth grade and created a school within a school in the high school with programs aimed at helping those children.

He also talked about how part of the student’s day is spent at a career center and the rest at the high school. He said what they are finding is that those students typically have the credit to be sophomores by the end of their freshman year.

“We all know that in high school, the freshman year is the most critical year. If we can get them past that, they are more likely to be successful,” Hibbard said.

Hibbard said that is what’s going on in the district he’s at, but he said dropout prevention really starts in kindergarten. He said schools need to have a solid literacy program to help keep students on track throughout their years in school so that they make it to graduation. He pointed to Read 180 as being one of the programs that can help with that task.



OPEN DOORS

Hibbard also was asked about his thoughts on the role and importance of the superintendent and corporation in being open to the public and media.

“I think that’s really important,” Hibbard said. “I think we need to be transparent. As the superintendent of New Albany-Floyd, I have to be trustworthy and part of that is having open meetings like we are having here today.”



LEADERSHIP STYLE

When asked to describe his leadership style, Hibbard said it is loose and tight.

“I think there are things we need to be tight about. Those are the parameters. Those are the school board goals, district goals, strategic plan,” Hibbard said. “But I also think you have to be loose about giving teachers, principals and administrators the ability to be creative, so that we can create the solutions.”

Hibbard said that he understands that if he came to New Albany-Floyd County, there would be others in the corporation that already have the solutions.

“It’s about getting everybody together to work as a team and finding the common good,” Hibbard said. “It’s also about becoming interdependent instead of independent ... no one will get any points for doing great work and not sharing it. We need people to share great things in the district.”

Hibbard also said he is a servant leader.



ABOUT HIBBARD

Hibbard also introduced his wife in the audience, Kristin, and talked a little about his personal life. He said he has been married for 18 years and has three children: 10-year-old Isaac, 8-year-old Thomas and 6-year-old Caroline.



MAKING THE DECISION

Hibbard and Gray are two of 16 people who applied for the open superintendent position. Seven of those were interviewed, according to Dave Rarick, director of safety and public information officer with New Albany-Floyd County.

The school board hopes to name a new superintendent at a special board meeting Aug. 3.



Did You Know

• Bruce Hibbard is the assistant superintendent for the Metropolitan School District of Washington Township, which is located in Indianapolis.

• Hibbard — who obtained a Ph.D. from Indiana State University in 2005 — has experience as a teacher, assistant principal, principal and assistant superintendent.  

• Hibbard has held his current title as assistant superintendent since 2006.