CORRECTION: Principal Island Does NOT Exist

Apologies to all who received the earlier email announcing our new principal will be selected via a reality show called Principal Island. It turns out C-30 is not a secret island where school administrators battle it out in Survivor-style competitions to become the next…PRINCIPAL. C-30 is actually the name of the regulations guiding hiring for school administrators. The Principals Candidate Pool? Not a pool at all, just a database of qualified candidates.

We regret the error.

It turns out the district superintendent leads a process set out by the NYC Schools Chancellor and in consultation with the school community to select new principals. I guess that makes a lot more sense; though not as good for TV ratings.

As you likely have heard, Principal Raciunas is retiring at the end of this school year after serving our community for over 35 years! We thank her for her decades of dedication to growing hearts and minds.

We understand this change raises many questions:

• Who will be the new principal?

• When will they start?

• How does the process work?

• How will we ensure the chosen candidate aligns with our school community principles and is a real princi-pal?

The PTA Executive Committee met with District Superintendent Cintron this week to discuss the process. The hiring of a principal is governed by the Chancellor's Regulation C-30, which can sound a bit overwhelming, so we decided to try and put the process down in plain language. Please have a read and join us at the PTA meeting tomorrow morning (8:45am) for further discussion.

Looks like a lot to read? Okay, here's the Tl;dr version.

• Interim Acting Principal will be named by Superintendent Cintron in the next few weeks.

• They will officially begin July 1.

• Often, but not always, the interim transitions into the permanent role.

• The Superintendent has already conducted consultations with PTA leadership, SLT, teachers, staff, and even some students about the type of leader that is right for PS110.

• The official process will begin Sept. 1, 2024, with the job posted and open for 15 days.

• A committee of staff, parents, and teachers interview the top candidates and make recommendations to the superintendent.

• SLT  has an opportunity to raise any concerns before the superintendent appoints the new principal.

• New principal should be in place by November.

Superintendent Cintron has filled seven principal roles through this process over the past year and is confident that it can be completed by the end of October or early November.

FAQ

Who selects the Interim Principal?

The Superintendent will select an Acting Interim Principal based on informal consultation with school teachers, staff, parents, and DOE leadership. The selection should be announced in the coming weeks.

Will the Interim Principal be eligible for the permanent position?

Yes. Superintendent Cintron strives to find a match that can transition into the permanent role. However, they still are required to go through the same process as other candidates and are not given preferential treatment. The interim choice often becomes the new principal, but not always.

Why isn't the job posted immediately?

State and DOE regulations, as well as union agreements, require a few conditions that mean the official process cannot begin until Fall 2024.

1. The current principal must have exited their post to free budget;

2. The process cannot commence while teachers and school staff are on holiday.

Is there a search or selection committee?

Yes. The Hiring Manager (Superintendent or their designee) forms the committee that will take part in interviews and rate candidates in accordance with the C-30 guidance. Officially this is called the Level I Committee. 

Are parents part of the process?

Yes. Parents and teachers are represented on the Level I Committee as well as other staff. The official makeup of the committee is one supervisor, two UFT members, one school support staff member represented by DC 37, Local 372, four to seven parents, one superintendent designee (chairperson), and one designee of an intermediary organization.

How are parents chosen to be on the committee? 

Parent representative spots are first offered to the PTA Executive Committee and next to parents on the School Leadership Team (SLT) if spots remain. The SLT (including the 4 parents on the team) will be involved during the final round of interviews.

Do parents who are not on the committee have input?

Yes! The Level I Committee will formulate interview questions for all finalists with input from the parent community. The PTA Executive Committee will invite parents to share the qualities and priorities they deem important for the new principal.

Is the hiring process open or confidential? 

Confidential. Members of the Level I Committee are required to sign confidentiality forms and are restricted from sharing information about candidates or the process.

Can I recommend someone for the role? 

Yes, parents and staff may recommend qualified individuals to the Office of Leadership for inclusion in the Principal Candidate Pool. The Office of Leadership will contact the individuals and provide information on the process for applying to the Principal Candidate Pool. You can also contact the PTA if you have someone who you think is a good fit and we can pass this on to Superintendent Cintron.

Who is eligible for the role? 

Anyone with a New York State school leader certification (e.g., SAS, SBL, or SDA) is eligible for the role, but only if they have completed the process to become a Principal Candidate Pool member.

Will the new principal set the budget for next school year?

No. The budgeting process occurs before the end of this school year and will be handled by Ms. Raciunas prior to her July 1 exit.

Have more questions? Join us for the PTA election meeting tomorrow, May 10 at 8:45am in the gym.

We are excited about this next phase in our school community’s journey and appreciate your participation. Onward!

Thank You,

Jason and the PTA Exec. Committee

On May 8, 2024, 8:08 PM -0400, Jason and the PS110 PTA Exec. Board ‹[email protected]›, wrote:

As you know, Principal Raciunas is retiring at the end of this school year after serving our community for over 35 years! You may be wondering how we will find a worthy successor. Well, have I got exciting news for you!

On a secret island known only by the codename C-30, hopeful school administrators splash and swim about in the Principal Candidate Pool, hoping they are selected as a finalist on…

5 enter, but only 1 can be The PRINCIPAL

Think you finally figured out the budget? Well, the mayor just cut funds in half, one teacher is retiring and 11 new students are joining mid-year! Can you magic up a miracle budget all while being chased by roving gangs of teachers and unruly students?

If you can outwit, outlast, and survive, you might have what it takes to be PS110’s new principal.

I’m fairly confident this is how it works.

Cheers!

Jason