February 15, 2010
by Christine Yeres
On Friday, the Chappaqua Central School District sent out a blast containing two letters: one from Superintendent David Fleishman announcing that he will leave his position with the district at the end of this school year, “to pursue opportunities in the Boston area,” where his family resides; the other from the Board of Education members informing residents that they will look for an interim superintendent for the 2010-2011 school year and are already developing a search process for a permanent replacement for Fleishman.
Fleishmen, who has been with CCSD since 2005, pledged his commitment to seeing the community through its budget process, set to begin officially on Tuesday, February 23. “Whoever follows me,” he wrote, “will walk into one of the most desirable leadership positions in the country.”
One year ago, citing family reasons, Fleishman was in the running for the schools superintendent position in Framingham, Massachusetts, but was not chosen for the job.
The two letters contained in the email blast follow.
Superintendent’s MessageDear Families,
The past five years have been among the most stimulating and rewarding years of my professional career. I have had the unique opportunity to serve as superintendent in a district and community that is deeply committed to and passionate about education. It is quite a privilege to work in a place where people care so much about meeting both the academic and emotional needs of children.
Just last week, one of our students remarked to me that “kids in Chappaqua really like school.” That sentiment is a reflection of the work that takes place every day in our buildings. It is a real joy to see the stimulating educational experiences of your children first-hand as they progress through school.
I have also had the privilege to work with so many committed parents and community members who support the district in a multitude of ways. The district is extremely fortunate to enjoy a broad base of support from the PTA and other school and community organizations.
The Chappaqua School District has consistently invested in its schools, which is a well-deserved source of community pride. While other districts around the country and in our region are in the process of dismantling educational programs, our Board’s wise planning and sound fiscal management will enable the district to maintain its high quality next year. I could not imagine working for a better set of bosses.
I recently told the Board of Education that there is a part of me that would like to stay in this excellent district for a long while. I see wonderful things ahead and continue to appreciate the incredible professional opportunity that I have been given.
However, I am at a point in my life where I need to spend more time with my children. As a result, I have informed the Board that I will be leaving my position at the close of the school year in order to pursue opportunities in the Boston area. Fortunately, the district has a highly skilled and experienced central office team in place and building administrators that are very capable. Whoever follows me will walk into one of the most desirable leadership positions in the country.
As we approach the budget cycle, I remain committed to ensuring that our outstanding school district remains a place where your children can thrive.
Sincerely,
David Fleishman
Superintendent of Schools
Board Statement
Dear Community Member,
It is with regret that the Board of Education accepts Superintendent David Fleishman’s decision to leave his position at the end of the current school year. For the last five years, David has been an exceptional educational and administrative leader for the district. He has supported quality teaching and learning in our schools, prudently managed district finances and operations, and been highly engaged with staff, students, and the community at-large.
The Board understands and respects Superintendent Fleishman’s need to return to the Boston area for family reasons. We wish him well and expect great success in his future professional endeavors.
We are confident that the district is well prepared for the challenges that lie ahead. We have an experienced and highly skilled administrative staff at the central office and in our school buildings who will continue to work toward educational excellence as well as operational efficiency and effectiveness. Our administrators have repeatedly demonstrated extraordinary leadership, a superior knowledge base and progressive action.
The Board has already begun to develop a process to select a new superintendent. We anticipate looking for an interim superintendent for the 2010-11 school year, giving us time to conduct a thorough search for a new superintendent who would join us July 1, 2011. We will keep the community informed of our efforts and, as we have done in the past, provide opportunities for community input during the process.
Chappaqua Central School District Board of Education
Jeffrey Mester, President
Janet Benton, Vice President
Gregg Bresner
Alyson Gardner Kiesel
Jay Shapiro
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