What am I missing? Call should have gone to Newman

Published 3:17 pm Wednesday, June 3, 2015

The Auburn School District Board of Directors unanimously selected Alan Spicciati as the new superintendent to replace Kip Herren, with his duties to begin July 1.

The other candidate was Michael Newman, the deputy superintendent of the Auburn School District.

The board’s decision was based on several factors. Spicciati has a clear vision for Auburn’s future, a deep respect and understanding for the strong foundational work to date, and the ability to seemingly capture the awareness of our community’s history and culture.

However, in my opinion, Newman has all of those qualities, and more.

The retiring Herren, who was voted Superintendent of the Year in the state of Washington this year, would be the first to attest to the fact that to achieve the award, it is important to have had an excellent support staff with continuing strong leadership through the years.

Newman was on board as deputy superintendent throughout most of Herren’s tenure. One of his most important assignments was to help orchestrate the successful bond issue that led to the building of our new beautiful Auburn High School. Newman oversaw the project, working with community leaders, staff and students during the process, which is still continuing.

What was the need to bring in someone from outside of our community to connect with it, when we already have someone within the school district family?

As history has shown, beginning with James Fugate, a former Auburn school superintendent, each change was made with people within our district family, namely Linda Cowan and Herren. Each grew within our system, much as Newman has, and along with it came the harmony among community, staff and the students who have been served and maintained. There was no reason to believe that was going to change.

Newman is connected to the community and has demonstrated an awareness of the community’s history and culture because he has lived within it. No learning curve would be necessary.

This, in no way, is to demean the capabilities of Spicciati. However, there was no need to go outside of our community to continue the goals that the board has set. We have had huge successes with all of the schools in our district with the continuing leadership, as history has shown.

In this case, if the credentials for both candidates were equal – and, at this level, they generally are – then the call should have clearly gone to Newman.

It’s not who’s right here, but what’s right.

– Al Rossi