PRESCOTT - David Smucker of Rifle, Colo., is the new incoming superintendent of the Prescott Unified School District.
The PUSD Governing Board Monday morning offered Smucker the position, and Governing Board President Dr. Joan Fleming said Smucker accepted the job.
Now, the board will negotiate his contract during an executive session at 4 p.m. today, March 9.
The board members could approve a contract with Smucker during their March 23 meeting.
"I am very happy with our selection. We had two outstanding candidates. The board felt Mr. Smucker is the best fit for Prescott - the best fit to lead the district and the best fit for the community," Fleming said.
The board members met in executive session Monday morning to discuss the two superintendent finalists - Smucker and Dr. Karen Stinson of Keosauqua, Iowa.
The board interviewed five superintendent candidates Thursday, selecting Smucker and Stinson as finalists for the job.
Smucker and Stinson spent Friday touring the district and meeting with district administrators, teachers and staff. On Friday afternoon, the two candidates met with community members.
During a public forum at Prescott High School, Smucker said his overall impression of the district was that "good things are happening. This is a district with high achieving schools and a dedicated staff."
Smucker described his strengths as "getting people to believe in their work. I am an effective communicator and leader. I am a collaborative leader. I care deeply about folks."
Posted: Thursday, March 11, 2010
Article comment by:
JoAnne Chaffeur
Mr. Smucker, I met you at the public forum on Friday. I want to thank you for taking on this job. We are looking forward to our future with new ideas. It is time for a change and hopefully the town and all of our family members will welcome you and make the transition smooth.
Posted: Thursday, March 11, 2010
Article comment by:
Nicole McNally
Ms. Smith, As the Director of Kids and Company I can assure you that PUSD does recognize that there are other childcare options in our community so I am sorry if you were misinformed. As far as other programs being more affordable Kids and Company has a policy of not turning away ANY family regardless of their ability to pay for our services. We have a track record of working with families from all walks of life through out the Quad-city area and beyond.
We are a state licensed Childcare facility that is not only required to comply with PUSD policies and regulations, but also those of AZDHS and DES. I would encourage all families to be pro-active when choosing a childcare program for thier family.
Posted: Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Article comment by:
Katy Harrell
Congratulations! We will gladly welcome a new person at the helm. Thanks for taking this on.
People, support the teachers, do not put them down!
Posted: Tuesday, March 09, 2010
Article comment by:
John Malott
Congratulations Mr. Smucker on receiving the superintendent position for PUSD. My wife, daughter, and I had the privilege of meeting you at the public forum on Friday, and even though we are big supporters of Joe Howard, we all felt that you would be a great addition to the district. I wouldn't worry too much about some of the negative comments posted regarding the district. I grew up here and my daughter now attends PHS and we are quite happy with the schools. I think your biggest obstacle to success will be the budget constraints imposed by the state. Anyhow, welcome, and I hope that you and your family will enjoy your new home here in Prescott!
Posted: Tuesday, March 09, 2010
Article comment by:
Since When Did PUSD do what was right for the families!!!
Jane:
Notable. Good luck!! You will run into the same issues that the Charters run into. What is right for the students is not what is right for PUSD. They want all the money and don't you even question what they do with it. The charter parents still pay the same taxes and bonds as everyone else but get %$^&* for attending a charter. Remeber what PUSD did to Northpoint. And that school was in the system. I remembe watching a board meeting where the PUSD teachers were chanting "close Northpoint, Close Northpoint". Now that was professional and certainly NOT SERVING the parents of PUSD. Cinderella all the way. Good luck with having them distribute competition information.
Posted: Tuesday, March 09, 2010
Article comment by:
Are you serious Jane?
You're criticizing PUSD for failing to notify parents who have chosen their after school program that there are cheaper ones available? Ones without any certified personnel I might add, but that is as goofy of a request as I have ever seen. If you want cheaper then shop at Walmart, but don't expect Safeway to send you over there Jane.
Posted: Tuesday, March 09, 2010
Article comment by:
Jane Smith
Over the past however many years there has been a hold out from the PUSD schools and the parents of their students. I hope that Mr. Smucker will be able to correct this problem. Currently the parents of the PUSD school district have been notified of only one after school program which was headed by the previous superintendment: Kids & Company. This program has a decent price but there are other groups in the area offering lower prices. This has been kept from the parents ears because these businesses are competing with the aforementioned company. The Boys and Girls Clubs of Central Arizona have lower rates and are ideal for families with low incomes. You certainly can't beat $50 a month (in comparison to $185), and there are scholarships that can reduce this fee even more. Now with a new head on the totem poll, I hope that there will be fair and equal advertisement through out the school district, showing parents ALL of their options and not just the ones that benefit the few. In these tough economic times, it is a terrible thing for a school district to keep this information from reaching the parents through school advertisements. Shouldn’t we be doing what is best for the kids? This includes letting parents know that there is a cheaper option. We do not need anymore “latch key kids” and allowing parents options to be limited is wrong. Let’s keep our kids out of trouble. What do you say? You think we can be part of the solution this time?
If you're reading these comments relax. The same bozos tend to write in quite a bit, and there's always someone whose kid supposedly was a victom of SPED transgressions. One such dad even got caught with his hand in the district's piggy bank recently and ended up in a legal mess. I digress.... But this man looks like a good up-and-coming superintendent and we can use one of those right about now.
Posted: Tuesday, March 09, 2010
Article comment by:
To: Hey Roland
It is NOT against Federal Law in any way, shape or form to have specific classrooms for children with specific disabilities. There are classrooms and programs for children tailored specifically to meet the needs arising from their respective disabilities all over this country.
It is, however, against the law to disregard the Least Restrictive Environment in which a student can access his/her education and make adequate progress. It is also against the law to disregard the Individual strengths and needs of a student. That's the primary part of his/her IEP. Apples to oranges, my friend.
Sorry you had such a bad encounter with PUSD, but please refrain from spouting half-truths about special education law. Hope you found a good school outside of the district.
Posted: Tuesday, March 09, 2010
Article comment by:
With a name like Smucker
You've got to be good. I wish Mr. Smucker and the students all the best.
Posted: Tuesday, March 09, 2010
Article comment by:
Hey Roland you are kinda correct ....
Hey Roland - the current Sup. did one thing very well- hid the spending of special education funds. To this day, PUSD can only account for one-third of the money special needs kids recieve being spent on their programs. They seem to think grouping students with similar disabilities is in compliance with the IDEA act - they are wrong. My child was REFUSED enrollment to his home school (thanks, Joe) because of his disablity - turns out they group these kids into a SINGLE classroom. Totally against federal law but do they care? Howard didn't. Nor did the counselor, Geske. THEY DON'T FOLLOW FEDERAL LAWS so why would they do anything else correct?
Posted: Tuesday, March 09, 2010
Article comment by:
Congratulations Mr. Smucker
It's a good school district to take over. Please don't listen to those such as Roland Summit, a person who can pack more lies into one paragraph than Bernie Madoff, a man with an agenda if there ever was one. You'll find most parents supportive we think. Welcome
Good luck to Mr Smucker. He has his work ahead of him and it's hoped he will be an improvement over the outgoing Superintendent. The posting by Mr Summit begins to cover it and is a nice counterpoint to 'Hear Say' who has the audacity to call out anonymous posters. Kevin, enjoy your second attempt at retirement, you can afford to get a hobby now. There are plenty of teachers out there who deserve recognition and respect. You sir, are not one of them in my opinion.
Posted: Tuesday, March 09, 2010
Article comment by:
Nick Collin
With a name like Smucker he has to be good
Posted: Monday, March 08, 2010
Article comment by:
Roland Summit
The current superintendant tried to be popular and please everyone. He ended up pleasing no one. Unless you count pleasing himself. He was able to retire and hire himself back at a huge salary. Double dipping. Over payment for under performance to say the least. Along with hiring his family and nepotism of the good ol' boy network little was done to keep PUSD standards high. Passing a bond and trying to squirrel it away as seed money for a new high school bordered on the fraudulent. Spending that money on spurious projects such as campus improvements at the High School by hiring a firm which has been repeatedly fined for hiring undocumented workers is a disgrace. What a legacy.... Ask yourselves, Has the quality of education in the public realm improved by bloating the payrolls with numerous "administrator" and "counselors"? Are the big wigs earning four times a starting teacher's salary a good use of resources in these troubled times? All of these "stories" have been missed by the Courier our investigative hometown newspaper. After all, its all about the kids. Nice work all around.
Posted: Monday, March 08, 2010
Article comment by:
Hear Say
Hate, discontent, etc... Nothing ever happens (Good or Bad) in this city without the wacko's stating personal opinions, second hand information, or twisting the story into something it isn't. Where are the facts? Why was the LAST ONE so bad? Who is this 20 year PUSD employee who obviously doesn't speak? Wake up people... Teachers don't have time to teach your kids anymore because they spend most of the day doing what should be the parents job. DISCIPLINE!!!! Parents, do your job... Teach your kids some manners.... Help them with homework... Get involved... Pretend you care about their education. Teachers are supposed to teach the kids, not babysit!!! Oh yeah... I also wish the new Superintendant well... Good luck. Remember, there is no Magic solution..
Posted: Monday, March 08, 2010
Article comment by:
john wilson
can he get us a new football and baseball coach at the high school?
Posted: Monday, March 08, 2010
Article comment by:
john doe
I hope he is not as bad as the last one was
Posted: Monday, March 08, 2010
Article comment by:
R Kramer
Hopefully he brings leadership and vision to public education. Which from what I hear from my neighbor who has worked for PUSD for over twenty years was sorely lacking in the current Super.
Posted: Monday, March 08, 2010
Article comment by:
Cathy Kennedy
I hope this guy can fix some of the issues the schools have. While I am pleased with the quality of education my kids get in the Humboldt District, I am far from happy about how kids are treated by teachers at the high school.
Posted: Monday, March 08, 2010
Article comment by:
Sounds great.
Sounds like they got a good person. My friend works for PUSD and said they liked this person a lot when he was making the rounds Friday. Now they need somebody out in PV.
Posted: Monday, March 08, 2010
Article comment by:
Excellent choice
I attended the event at PHS Friday and I agree that both of the candidates they chose were great. I agree with their choice of Superintendant. Welcome Mr. Smucker!
