Updated July 2, 2014 2:11 p.m. Updated information is highlighted in italics.
Monday’s South Orange-Maplewood Board of Education meeting was the last for Superintendent Brian Osborne, who will begin work as the superintendent of the New Rochelle, NY public school district on July 1.
However, in a resolution passed on Monday, June 16, the district will have the ability to pay Osborne a $740/day for consulting through July as needed.
Resolution 3164 AM: Approve Transition Consultant Agreement reads in part: “The Board and Dr. Osborne agree that at certain times during the month of July, the Board may need to consult with Dr. Osborne as it transitions to an Acting and/or Interim Superintendent of Schools.”
Read the full resolution (scroll down for 3164 AM) here.
Assistant Superintendent James Memoli will take over as acting superintendent. Board of Education President Beth Daugherty reports that an interim superintendent will be named no later than September 1.
Board President Beth Daugherty took the opportunity on Monday night to thank Osborne for his service and recount his accomplishments.
Daugherty said that Osborne had done much to improve the district in his seven years. Notably, said Daugherty, Osborne had expanded kindergarten to full day, overseen overhauls of the English language arts curriculum for all students and the math curriculum for grades K through 5, overseen an expansion of summer program, implemented new teacher evaluations, championed the leveling-up of middle school programs to expand opportunities for more students, started the implementation of the International Baccalaureate Middle Years Programme, and created a collaborative teaching environment that includes professional learning communities in each school. (See Daugherty’s comments and Osborne’s response in the video above.)
Sandra Karriem also made a public goodbye to Osborne, saying that it had been “a pleasure and a privilege” to serve with Osborne. Karriem recounted how Osborne had impressed her with his belief that equity and excellence must go hand in hand. Karriem quoted Osborne as stating, “Excellence without equity is nothing more than privilege, and equity without excellence is tokenism.”
She ended her comments, “I wish you well in New Rochelle. I will miss you.”
During the public speaking portion of the meeting, Dr. Dionne Williams, who has at times been critical of Osborne and the Board, took the opportunity to praise him. Williams said that Osborne’s appointment had held “such promise. A lot of that has been realized.”
