The new superintendent of schools has arrived, and it couldn’t be at a busier time for the Monroe Township School District.
Kenneth Hamilton, who was appointed by the Board of Education on Dec. 4, officially started work last week, and he’s already been busy getting up to speed on the soon-to-be-introduced 2009-2010 budget, and familiarizing himself with the schools and the community. But he said it has been an enjoyable process.
“I expected the people to be gracious and welcoming, and they have been nothing short of incredible,” he said. “There has been a tremendous effort to make me feel welcomed.”
Hamilton has been conducting a series of interviews with various stakeholders in the school district, including students, parents, teachers, support staff, administrators, Board of Education members, municipal employees and custodians. This, he said, has provided him with an opportunity to meet people on a one-on-one basis, hear their views and perceptions and give them an opportunity to ask him questions.
“I will use this data to inform my priorities and action plan. It is a huge investment in time, but the rewards are worthwhile,” Hamilton said.
The state Department of Education’s District Factor Groups (DFGs), which range from “A” to “J,” reflect a community’s socioeconomic status. Monroe has a DFG of FG, while Hamilton’s former district in Westhampton, Burlington County, has a DFG of GH. When asked about the main socioeconomic differences between the two districts, Hamilton replied that he has tried throughout his career to pay little attention to the designations because they can potentially perpetuate an ideology that wealth is a determining factor for children.
“I have not noticed a difference in that regard between the two districts. I find that teachers in both districts want to do the best they can and children are anxious to learn,” he said.
Hamilton has led transitions to new facilities in two previous school districts, and he will in Monroe as well. The new high school, being built across Schoolhouse Road from the current facility, is very much on schedule to open in September 2011, he said, noting that he has reviewed the current plan, and the project manager has provided him with necessary updates. His previous experience has made him attentive to potential issues that can be proactively addressed to make the transition as smooth as possible, he said.
Within the near future, Hamilton is interested in exploring the feasibility of the AVID (Advancement through Individual Determination) program in the district, which he said targets the many students who are average to middle learners who often get overlooked.
“The beauty of the program is that the strategies benefit all children. I am also interested in looking at additional assessment instruments that will help us gather data to inform instructional and curricular decisions,” he said. “State assessments do not provide us with the data we need in this regard, nor are they designed to do so.”
When asked about the biggest challenges facing the district, Hamilton said it is the uncertaintywith state aid levels, which is not exclusively a Monroe issue, and standardizing best practices from school to school so that all children are exposed to the high-quality, rigorous programs.
As for its strong points, he said the district has incredibly dedicated staff members who are committed to doing whatever is necessary to improve the district, and a Board of Education that shares that mission.
“I am so excited about the promise and potential of Monroe Township. I believe that I will have a positive and productive working relationship with the Board of Education and the various stakeholders,” he said. “The necessary ingredients for a great recipe are in place. I just want to make certain that in the end it looks just like the picture on the box.”