Jim Ritter announced as interim superintendent
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
In a press conference held this morning, Columbia School Board President Michelle Gadbois announced that the board voted unanimously to appoint former superintendent Jim Ritter to serve as interim superintendent for the 2008-2009 school year.
Ritter's contract begins Sept. 1 and will run through June 30, a typical contract for a superintendent Gadbois said. Though his term officially beings Sept. 1, Ritter will begin work as superintendent today at 9:30 a.m. when he meets with the administration staff.
Gadbois said that Ritter will voluntarily be working full-time until his official start date in September. Since retiring superintendent Phyllis Chase has used her sick-leave for the rest of the month, she is effectively gone from the district. Once his contract begins, Ritter will be working half-time due to family obligations and other personal reasons.
The board offered Ritter a salary that equaled what Chase would have made this year and adjusted it for his half-time status. Since Chase made $180,000 before her departure from the district, Ritter was offered $90,000. However, Ritter didn't accept that offer, instead opting for a salary of $50,000, which he believed to be fairly comparable to the average teacher's salary in the district.
Ritter's primary goal during his time as interim superintendent will be to restore the community's confidence in the board and administration.
"I think we have some issues we need to resolve, but all the ingredients for a great school district are there," Ritter said.
Do you think Ritter is the right choice? What changes to you hope and think he is capable of making. What advice to you have for him?
3 comments:
This is really strange that all the sudden the board can re-hire someone that was a failure to begin with, and yet the same board feels that Ms. Chase did no good at all. What I'd like to know is, with all this education you people there on the board has, why is it that you can easily criticize Dr. Chase, and yet because she didn't won't to be like you all, she chose to set down. I think she's pretty smart for stepping down, because the people of the board are willing to work towards doing the right things to make sure the right is always in front. You people have some hidden agenda’s real bad. If you want to get the kids a smart education, then do it, but if you want to be a politician, go join George Bush.
I'm really disappointed in you people there, especially those of you that have a problem with people of color, like Dr. Chase. Oh, by the way Dr. Chase, if you a reading this note, Great job. Cause nobody else there on the board has the guts to lead.
REVISED COMMENT:
This is really strange that all the sudden the board can re-hire someone that was a failure to begin with, and yet the same board feels that Ms. Chase did no good at all. What I'd like to know is, with all this education you people there on the board has, why is it that you can easily criticize Dr. Chase, and yet because she didn't won't to be like you all, she chose to set down. I think she's pretty smart for stepping down, because the people of the board are working against the issues that needs to be met, and yet the whole school system is lacking for improvement, due to people that gets elected to serve that are people of special quality that fits the status-quo. If I had a child to be needing education, I sure wouldn’t put them in the C.P.S. Ya’ll have to many problems helping the right people, and you’re good at helping those who makes the system look like a bucking Missouri mule. You people have some hidden agenda’s real bad. If you want to get the kids a smart education, then do it, but if you want to be a politician, go join George Bush.
I'm really disappointed in you people there, especially those of you that have a problem with people of color, like Dr. Chase. Oh, by the way Dr. Chase, if you a reading this note, Great job. Cause nobody else there on the board has the guts to lead.
It’s obvious Dr. Chase has a great track record of leading, cause if she didn’t, do you people really think she could have been appointed to the system there? BUT, what about the Ritter guy? What good track record does he have, or should I say had. No wonder you people want him back. He is a YES FELLO’ to the people. What a shame. How much damage will he now do to make things worse, since you all think Dr. Chase led you all in the wrong direction. Oh, Mr. Ritter, you have a lot of guts to say that you are going to get the system back on the right direction. I wonder, what direction are you heading them towards? You led them in the wrong direction before, remember?
Is anyone wondering why the board was discussing so much of this in closed session? It seems that was an issue when it was Dr. Chase's contract, but not when it was Dr. Ritter's contract.
I think the district is ready to move forward, but the board still needs to change its ways.