Superintendent David Fleishman, finalist for top job at Newton, MA schools

February 19, 2010
by Christine Yeres

Less than one week after announcing that he would leave the Chappaqua Central School District in June, as of this past Tuesday, February 16, Superintendent David Fleishman finds himself one of three finalists for the superintendent spot in Newton, Massachusetts, the town where he was born.  Newton is about six miles west of Brookline, where Fleishman’s family resides.

According to the Newton Public Schools website, the school system serves 11,556 students (two and a half times the number of students in the Chappaqua school district) “enrolled in fifteen elementary schools (K-5), four middle schools (6-12) and two comprehensive high schools (9-12),” as well as “two integrated pre-school programs with over 230 students.” The population of Newton is around 85,000; Chappaqua’s population is around 18,000. 

The local online newspaper, Wicked Local Newton, reported that Fleishman earns a gross salary of $277,500 here in Chappaqua, more than the superintendent he would replace, who earned $247,870 in his last full year in Newton, 2008.

Residents who follow school board meetings will recognize their school district and superintendent in the description of his five years with CCSD contained in the resume Fleishman submitted to the Newton School Committee, subsequently provided by the Wicked Local Newton to its readers along with those of the other two candidates. Fleishman’s read, “Act as Chief Executive Officer for high performing suburban school district with 4300 students, 700 staff members and a budget of more than $100 million. Led district through a major strategic planning process resulting in a district-wide focus on 21st century skills. Initiated review of high school structure which led to new student schedule, new course offerings and enhanced professional development for teachers. Revamped administrator professional development to focus on classroom instruction. Designed new budget format which led to a richer and more thorough process. Improved communication and relationships with all bargaining units which resulted in timely contracts and a greater ability to resolve issues. Expanded district communication to parents and community members. Developed successful partnership with school foundation in order to provide new technology for all secondary math and science teachers.”

The application process was kept extremely confidential over the six-month long process, but now that the three finalists have been chosen, the remainder of the process will go quickly. The three candidates will each spend a full day next week interviewing with stakeholders.  In the day-long interview, according to a Wicked Local Newton article of February 3, entitled “Newton closes in on new schools superintendent,” “Finalists will meet with the School Committee during morning sessions, meet with school administrators during the day, interview with the 20-member superintendent search committee in the late afternoon, and attend public forums tentatively scheduled for 7:30 each night.”

Fleishman’s appearance date in Newton is Thursday, February 25; he will have unveiled a plan for Chappaqua CSD’s 2010-2011 budget on Tuesday, February 23, making for a busy week, at the end of which he may hear Newton’s School Committee members’ decision, since they intend to discuss their preferences on Friday, February 26 and then choose. 

In an editorial on February 10, 2010, the Newton TAB suggested that the committee slow down and take until at least Monday. “Members should take the weekend and read parent e-mails,” the editorial advised, “Someone might write something that strikes just the right chord, that helps with their decision.”

[Committee members] should take the weekend to mull this over. This is the most important decision this School Committee will make. We urge members not to let the process drive them to be impulsive.” 

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