Alan Derry is at Sullivan West’s helm

An interview with TOM KANE

CALLICOON, NY — Alan Derry took over as superintendent of Sullivan West on July 1, 2004. The following interview took place on October 5, 2004.

TRR: How are you going to make up for the recent cuts in staff that were made?

AD: Nine aides and five teachers were not rehired. Most of the teacher positions were retirements that were not replaced. Most of the aides were rehired as special education aids. Recess, which was a duty of the aides, probably won’t be restored. Recess during the school day is an anomaly, at least where I have been. I haven’t seen that kind of recess for 20 years.

TRR: What other things can you do to make up for the cuts?

AD: I’m not sure yet. The other reductions were really issues of equity from building to building. One building had things that another building did not. The question is really a bigger question. How we use our day is the issue. The question I would ask is where are we in the learning process and where do we wish to be? Are we where we should be? If we are, then that allows us more freedom with the rest of the time. My job between now and budget is to set the question as to what’s best for the youngsters in terms of the entire learning experience rather than talk about recess or more music or art.

TRR: Will there be big changes next year?

AD: Yes, there will be. I think a big issue is the lack of consistent curriculum from building to building. The curriculum should reflect what the state requires. Kids need to have the same opportunity if they’re in Narrowsburg or JY. Standards should be the same.

TRR: You’re going to be holding some meetings with parents, teachers and union reps. How are you going to use the information?

AD: The process is very important to give people the opportunity to voice their opinions and feelings. What we’ll do is get information from everyone and try to match that all together to see where we want to go and where we need to go. We’ll use that information in building a strategy.

TRR: When is the first meeting with parents?

AD: The first on is Columbus Day, October 12 at DV, for DV parents, from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Then at the other building later.

TRR: Are you excluding teachers from these meetings?

AD: They’re free to come if they want to, but they’ll have their own meetings. We’ll establish a strategic team made up of administration, teachers, parents, community members, about 17 people.

TRR: What is their role?

AD: They’ll develop the plan, improve instructional practices, curricular practices, staff development to make this a better school. It’s a big group and it takes time, but it needs to be done.

TRR; Can we shift to the athletic fields? What’s going to happen there?

AD: I will make a report to the board at next board meeting about the status and our plans. We anticipate that we will receive some funds from the mediation process with Hillier over the drainage design. We will get a bit of money back where we didn’t spend money or saved money. We will go out to bid again for some of the project.

TRR: Will you have to go to voters for approval to spend tax-raised money to finish the job?

AD: That’s up to the board. I don’t see us having to do that right now. If we get enough money back to build say, one of the baseball fields, one of the softball fields, or a tennis court, then the question comes down to do the work bit by bit over a few years, or do it all at once. If everything at once, then we’ll need to go to the voters.

TRR: Building snafus have caused bad press for the district. How can you counter that?

AD: I cannot undo what was done. What we have to do is make sure what’s done is done wisely and done in a public fashion.

TRR: Last year, the board was seriously divided? What can you do to avoid that?

AD: I think the past is the past. In the future, the board has to get good information from me and be comfortable. I have to give them my advice and encourage them to be a team.

I communicate with each of them once a week by writing. There should be no surprises for them.

TRR: Projected enrollments in the district are going down. How do you reconcile that with the news that real estate sales have never been better?

AD: Our enrollment is clearly down. We have 60 fewer students than last year. We don’t know where they’re going but they’re leaving. Are their families moving? We don’t know. We have contracted with an expert in enrollment projections with BOCES on Long Island. We will have a better view of what the facts are. It impacts us aid-wise and is not a good thing.