Transfers of demoted principals Tom Szerensits and Macon Tucker for next school year have been put on hold by Harford County Public Schools Superintendent Robert Tomback.
During Monday night’s Board of Education meeting, it was announced by Tomback that Aberdeen principal Szerensits would be transferred to become an assistant principal at Bel Air High School and that Joppatowne principal Macon Tucker would be transferred to the same position at Patterson Mill High School.
Click below to listen to Dagger Education Editor Cindy Mumby discuss the transfer of Szerensits and Tucker on WAMD 970AM
[audio:http://www.daggerpress.com/wp-content/uploads/052511_CINDY_DAGGER_ABERDEEN.mp3|titles=052511_CINDY_DAGGER_ABERDEEN]Transfers for next school year would take effect July 1, but HCPS manager of communications Teri Kranefeld told The Dagger that all of those transfers, not just Szerensits and Tucker, were put on hold by the superintendent sometime after the Board of Education meeting, during which Board members voted 4 to 3 to table related promotions and appontments. Unlike transfers, promotions and appointments require Board of Education approval.
“Dr. Tomback has the discretion and authority to initiate transfers as per the needs of the schools. The promotions and appointments may affect transfer decisions, so full implementation of the transfers has been put on hold at this time. However, none of this takes effect until July 1,” Kranefeld said.
I don’t know what caused this to happen but I am VERY glad to see it. Massive movement of people at certain schools and not others. Why were 2 Assistant Principals getting moved out of Patterson Mill? Doesn’t seem at all fair to the students, teachers and community. What is going on with the Superintendent? Is it because he and his right hand man don’t know enough about running a school system and the culture of the county?
I heard it said from the beginning…the least qualified candidate was offered the job. I think his actions are proving that the lack of qualifactions accusation is proving correct.
HCPS.ORG lists a Special Board Meeting on Thursday, May 26 at 9:15PM for Action Item: Decision on Promotions and Appointments.
Looks like things could be heating up after Monday’s explosive meeting. Very unusual for the BOE to call a meeting on such short notice and so late at night.
Dr. Tomback obviously knows what it takes to be a successful principal and was seeing something that wasn’t working with these two gentlemen. For that reason, I think it would be a great idea for Dr. Tomback to take a break from being superintendent next year and go be principal at Aberdeen High School. Obviously, his expertise is desperately needed. I mean, if two guys who’ve been in the system all these years don’t know what they are doing, we NEED people like Dr. Tomback to show them how it should be done. Go Doctor T! Let’s see you show those folks down on Route 40 how to boost those test scores!
You are so so right! Great idea. He came here with no experience, doesn’t live here and brought in someone else who doesen’t have any and doesn’t live in this county either. The 2 of them come up with this idea and I bet one of their cronies is coming in to take at least 1 of these positions. If they don’t have the power to change the schedule in high school or fire teachers or change the curriculum, I don’t really see how bringing in someone else is going to change anything THAT much. When HCPS implemented the block schedule and added classes to all the high schools, the one thing that did happen was that several of them went downhill in the SAT score area. But who cares about that? Not the people running the system. Oh and what did these students get in exchange for loss of instruction time? A piece of crap class called Living in the Contemporary World and opportunities to be office and library aides and tutors (free labor for HCPS). And parents get to pay for remedial classes at Harford Community College because their kids weren’t taught the material in high school.
Ethel…They are not being taught either in Elementary School because of Everday Math.
That’s simple. You raise the test scores by excluding those students who aren’t expected to do well. Principle Szerensits is the best principal in HCPS and demoting him was revenge for doing what was best for the students, not what was best to farther the careers of his supervisors. Sad, but it really is that simple. Please look into this and join me in trying to get Mr. Szerensits promoted back to principal. I could go on and on about the good he has done but it’s all clearly out there. Feel free to ask if you can’t find the info. This man has knowingly risked his job to give our children the best possible education he could and he is being punished for it. He deserves our support.