Lynn school board confident in personnel

LYNN – After being named two of the best high schools in the country for the second straight year, Lynn Classical and Lynn English high schools could both start the 2009-2010 school year with new principals, something that school committee members say won’t affect their decision when choosing a superintendent.Classical Principal Warren White is one of eight semi-final candidates to replace retiring Superintendent Nicholas Kostan, while English Principal Andrew Fila announced earlier this year that he would not return when his contract expires in 2009.U.S. News and World Report once again named the two schools Bronze Medal High Schools this month in a survey of more than 21,000 public high schools nationwide.With several successful years under their belts, either principal’s departure would leave a hole at their respective schools, but committee members say the personnel infrastructure at those schools is strong enough to remain successful if and when there is a change.”I think we are putting the horse before the cart here, because this superintendent race is wide open but if you want to speculate, the idea (of replacing White and Fila) does not bother me at all,” said School Committee Chair Mayor Edward J. Clancy Jr. “People retire. The teachers, the administrative staff – everyone else is still there. All of the support staff that help the principals do a superb job will still be there.”Other committee members agreed, noting that the success of any business, team or organization relies on its administrative ability to work together as a team and properly fill holes when they appear.”I think we have enough people in the ranks that can come in and do the job,” said Committee member Donna Coppola. “The principal spot is important, but it is the support people that make it work. It will be the same with the new superintendent, it will be the same for Barack Obama – the people they surround themselves with will help them become successful.”If what committee members say is true, White and the other seven candidates have an equal chance at replacing Kostan as interviews are set to begin this week and, unlike past superintendent searches, there are no frontrunners this time around.Whichever candidate wins the job will be faced with the decision of who will replace Fila at English High School. Originally, the school’s board requested that Kostan appoint Assistant Principal Thomas Strangie as interim to work with Fila this year, but the superintendent declined, leaving the decision to his successor.”I don’t think Classical and English are going to tumble with a principal retiring or leaving for a new job,” said School Committee Member John Ford. “It is not set up as a one man show. Not to minimize the principals or the job they have done, but as any good leader would say he is only as good as the people he directs.”Superintendent interviews will begin Dec. 11 and continue Dec. 17 and 18. Committee members are hoping to make a decision by Christmas as Kostan has set his last day for Jan. 1.