“Trustees were not ready for true reform”

Thursday, Jan. 26, 2006 | 2:46 a.m.

I very regretfully report that Eric Nadelstern today withdrew his application for the CCSD superintendent position.test

He informed me of this decision a short while ago, having come to this decision after hosting five of the seven trustees in New York this past week.test

His decision was based simply on the notion that he would not be able to be successful with a divided School Board. He felt as though the trustees were not ready for true reform and while we had a majority vote (4-3) confirmed to allow him to be offered the position, knowing the trustee mindsets, their apparent inability to work together and their obvious dysfunction as a working board to perform most responsibilities effectively, he felt that his ability to achieve those reforms was simply not possible.test

He believes that while it looks as though he would have been offered the job, to then not accept the position would be disingenuous to the trustees and to the community knowing his feelings about the trustees today.test

While I am greatly disappointed by his decision, I do agree with his perspective based on the actions of the trustees over the last three weeks as they have proceeded through the interview process and how they handled themselves in N.Y.test

Eric asked me to extend his deepest appreciation to all of you for your time, commitment and support of his candidacy and his work in public education. He has very respectfully asked that we contact him again should the composition of the School Board change to the degree that they are more willing to embrace the required reforms to make public education effective for all students.test

I want to express to all of you that while this is a disappointment as a short-term goal, I do believe we have created a paradigm shift in the way the community views its responsibility to play a role in public education.