The School Committee’s first-year evaluation of Bedford Superintendent of Schools Cliff Chuang is an affirmative endorsement of style and substance, including course corrections.
“Despite multiple, unexpected challenges, Cliff remains positive, responsible, and steadfast in his approach to change in our district. We recognize and applaud his first year in our school district,” states the summary introduction.
Committee members and Chuang quickly reviewed the highlights of the evaluation at the board’s meeting on June 10. The full evaluation is posted on the committee’s website.
Chuang told the committee, “I feel the evaluation is fair, thoughtful, and helpful,” with no surprises. “Feedback helps you improve,” he said, and provides a message that “you make mistakes, and don’t want to make the same mistakes again.”
“The financial issues we have are well understood. They shouldn’t overshadow a lot of good that has been done and a lot of accomplishment,” said committee member Sarah McGinley.
The School Committee uses evaluation rubrics provided by the state Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. The template features four major categories – instructional leadership, management and operations, family and community engagement, and professional culture — with specific indicators connected to each.
The committee determined that Chuang was “proficient” in each of the four. (The committee’s practice in recent years has been to grade no higher than proficient. Angel Pettitt, elected to the committee on March 9, chose to abstain from the process because his abbreviated time in office did not give him full perspective.)
The evaluation said Chuang’s “greatest success” was under the heading of family and community engagement.
“He worked hard, spent enormous amounts of time, and was recognized for the presence he had in the district. Families and students noticed his presence at many events. He is unparalleled in engaging all stakeholders from all segments of the community.”
“You started showing up even before you were on board. That is recognized. That is appreciated,” said committee Chair Sheila Mehta-Green.
The committee added, “He is sensitive to cultural differences, welcoming to all Bedford students regardless of where they reside, and is sensitive to the needs of families whose home language is not English.”
The committee also tagged as “exemplary” Chuang’s leadership in replacing a controversial literacy curriculum for the elementary grades. “Cliff oversaw a rapid overhaul with terrific speed and widespread collaboration,” the text reads. “His leadership and initiative resulted in an unprecedented evaluation of multiple literacy programs, and the eventual selection of a science-based curriculum which will greatly improve our district’s commitment to literacy.”
Mehta-Green also noted the role of Assistant Superintendent Dr. Tricia Clifford in driving this process.
Labeled “proficient/needs improvement” was a management indicator related to the emergence of a budget deficit of more than $1.4 million, primarily from unexpected special education expenses. The situation wasn’t reported to the committee until April.
“Cliff had some issues related to a lack of consistent and thorough supervision and oversight related to financial management, budgets, and special education expenses,” the evaluation says, adding, “He quickly has made a plan for oversight in the future.”
The topic continues under a second category. “His failure to appropriately prioritize fiscal reporting and tracking of special education costs in the budget ultimately resulted in unnecessary conflict and time spent debating budgetary issues.”
But the committee added, “Cliff has recommendations for next year that he has made to address the financial management concerns. It is an essential function of the superintendent to manage the administrative functions of running the school district. It needs to be a top priority for him to demonstrate proficiency in this area next year.”
Another indicator under that category was considered exemplary. “Cliff understands and appropriately prioritizes the value of professional development, diverse hiring practices, and career growth opportunities. He utilized agency of teachers, subs, and SPED teachers when needed to keep staffing stable. He has suggested innovative ways to decrease the reliance on contracted services.”
Under the professional culture category, the committee considered Chuang proficient in the area of communication.
“Cliff consistently seeks and considers feedback in decision-making, and he has a good mastery of complex subject matter with commendable recall ability. However, a balance between passion for change and the day-to-day operations of a school system is important.
“In Cliff’s intention to be clear and give all the possible information, he needs to work on being concise with his communication.”
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