By Paul Tuthill
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/wamc/local-wamc-981960.mp3
Springfield, MA – The second largest public school district in Massachusetts is looking for a new superintendent. WAMC's Pioneer Valley Bureau Chief Paul Tuthill reports..
Under fire over his financial compensation and questioned about his commitment to Springfield, Alan Ingram announced his resignation effective at the end of the upcoming academic year..which coincides with the end of his current four year contract as Superintendent of the Springfield Public Schools. Ingram made the announcement in an email to faculty and staff shortly after 8 AM Monday. He did not give a specific reason for the decision.
The school department's communication's director, Azell Cavaan said Ingram would have no comment beyond the written statement.
In the almost two page statement, Ingram listed his accomplishments and thanked students, parents, teachers, staff, and benefactors of the public schools for their support.
Reaction to Ingram's planned departure is mixed. Tim Collins, the president of the Springfield Education Association, which represents the district's teachers, praised Ingram for giving teachers a voice in efforts to reform the struggling schools..
Ingram was hired four years and tasked with turning around a public school system that has ten of the 34 worst performing schools in the state and 23 other schools classified as underperforming based on student test scores. Springfield has received tens of millions of dollars from the state and federal governments to implement turnaround plans..
Mike Rodgers who was on the school committee when Ingram was hired said there is a lot to like about him, but said the superintendent's job is results oriented and student achievement in Springfield has improved only marginally.
Ingram, who came to Springfield from a school administrators job in Oklahoma City, had been under fire recently over his compensation. Last spring, as the city was struggling to close a budget gap, Ingram received a 12 thousand dollar pay raise, per terms of his contract, which boosted his base salary to 202 thousand dollars, making him one of the highest paid school superintendents in the state. His contract gives him a 15 thousnad dollar annuity and 650 dollars per month for travel expenses. It recently came to light that Ingram received a 30 thousand dollars bonus to help secure a mortgage , but he has yet to purchase a home in Springfield.
School committee member and mayoral candidate Antonette Pepe said Ingram has failed to improve the schools.
Another mayoral candidate, City Council President Jose Tosado also said it is just as well Ingram is leaving.
IN A WRITTEN STATEMENT, SPRINGFIELD MAYOR DOMENIC SARNO, WHO ALSO CHAIRS THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE CALLED INGRAM'S PUBLIC SERVICE CAREER COMMENDABLE, AND SAID HE WAS HOPEFUL THE THINGS DONE UNDER INGRAM'S TENURE WOULD LEAD TO POSITIVE CHANGES IN THE SCHOOLS FOR YEARS TO COME...THE STATEMENT ALSO QOUTED SARNO AS SAYING THE SCHOOLS CAN'T AFFOR DISTRACTIONS WHICH WOULD INTERUPT THE PROCESS OF EDUCATING STUDENTS...
Reporting from WAMC's Pioneer Valley News Bureau on the campus of Western New England University I'm Paul Tuthill..