Preston superintendent rated 'satisfactory' by school board

Preston - The Board of Education has given Superintendent John Welch a "satisfactory" grade in his annual performance evaluation, recommending that he work to improve student performance, boost community involvement in the schools and keep the board informed on progress.

The board on Monday approved a three-page written evaluation report and a one-year extension on his contract, which now runs through June 30, 2013. His salary, which did not include a raise in the current budget, will remain at the current $115,000.

Welch thanked the board for the votes and said the board conducted a thorough review that still is not yet completed. Welch presented a list of 13 goals for this school year that were tabled Monday.

His proposed top goal to have 80 percent of Preston students reach the advanced goal level on the Connecticut Mastery Test matches the board's top recommendation to improve student performance. The board also wants reports every other month on efforts to improve test scores.

Preston fared well in last school year's CMT, with most grade levels either meeting or coming close to the 80 percent goal. Several scores improved over the previous year's test results.

Board Chairman Dan Harris said the board would like to hear from teachers and others involved in programs that improve test scores.

"We're encouraging teachers and staff to take a more active role by providing reports directly to the board at meetings," Harris said. "We're not looking for just involving the superintendent."

The board also would like more community involvement and a more "community atmosphere" in the schools. In December, Welch established a new Preston Veterans Memorial School Advisory Board. The 12 members and Principal Kathi Walsh will attend a training session Saturday, conducted by the consultant group Leadership Greater Hartford.

The board also established its own community relations subcommittee in December. That committee also will look for opportunities for community involvement, Harris said.

Welch's evaluation process, which began in June, was not without controversy. It took a 3-2 board vote Monday to enter executive session to complete the evaluation. And following an Aug. 1 closed-door meeting, board member Pauline Andruskiewicz submitted a one-page letter to the board objecting to a discussion of a list of goals Harris presented for the superintendent for the 2011-12 school year. She pointed out that Welch had presented his own list of goals during open session, which was tabled.

"It is inappropriate to use an executive session as cover in order to talk behind any employee's back," Andruskiewicz wrote, "especially our own superintendent, as well as the public who, among other things, elected us to abide by the law."

Harris said he disagreed with Andruskiewicz's letter and called it a misunderstanding because she was not present at the initial evaluation meeting in June.

Andruskiewicz, however, said she did attend the Aug. 1 meeting when the goals were addressed in closed session erroneously. She said the superintendent's proposed goals have been made public and must be discussed in open session at upcoming meetings.

"We're not done," she said. "Issues were tabled."

c.bessette@theday.com