RAISE THE BAR. COMMIT TO EXCELLENCE.

StatementfromBoardofEducationPresidentKennethM.Bruce
January21,2016

TheBoardofEducationhasacceptedtheresignationofoursuperintendent,Dr.MargueriteVanden
Wyngaard.HerresignationwilltakeeffectonJune30.Dr.Vwillbeginpaidleavetomorrow.

Itiswithregretthattheboardacknowledgesthatthisstepisinthebestinterestofallofour9,500
students,theirfamiliesandourentirecommunity.WewouldliketothankDr.Vforhercommitmentto
ourschooldistrictforthepast3years.Therearesomeinitiativesthatshehasputinplacethatwe
willcontinuebecausewebelievetheyaremakingadifferenceinthecriticalworkthatremains.

However,theboardandthesuperintendenthavecometoapointwherewenolongercanovercome
ourphilosophicaldifferencesabouthowbesttoimplementthechangeourdistricturgentlyneeds.

Changeandtransitionarealwayshard.Theboarddoesnottakethissteplightly.Wedidnotarrive
herewithoutasignificantamountofdiscussionandeffort.Wearecommittedtoworkingtogetherto
trytomakethistransitionassmoothaspossiblemostespeciallyforourstudentsandfamilies.

Weunderstandthefrustrationsthatmanymembersofourcommunityareexpressing.Wesharethose
frustrations.Weaskallmembersofourcommunitytoworkwithustowardsolutionsthatwillremove
thebarriersthathistoricallyhavecontributedtounsatisfactoryoutcomesfortoomanyofourchildren.

TheboardalsoisgratefultoDr.KimWilkinsforacceptingtheroleasactingsuperintendentduringthis
timeoftransition.Dr.Wilkinsisourlongesttenuredprincipalandarespectedleaderbothinour
schooldistrictandthroughoutourcommunity.SheisanAlbanynativeanddeeplyunderstandsthe
needsofourstudentsandourcity.