Superintendent’s Contract Could Be Renewed Early

By CHERYL ROSS

By Cheryl Ross

The Virginian-Pilot

PORTSMOUTH

Superintendent David Stuckwisch, credited with overseeing dramatic academic improvements in the city’s schools, may be unanimously approved this week to run the division for four more years.

That’s what some School Board members are saying after what they called highly positive closed-session discussions on renewing his contract.

More than anything, board members point to Stuckwisch’s leadership in gaining full state accreditation for 80 percent of the city schools. That’s up from just a handful when he took the division’s top job five years ago.

“I think he’s done an excellent job, and we’re moving ahead like we should be,” said Linda Ridenour, the board’s vice chairwoman.

Members are scheduled to vote on the matter at Thursday’s regular board meeting.

The contract does not expire until next year, but Stuckwisch asked for an early decision. “I’m very happy in Portsmouth,” he said. “I enjoy it. It’s a good challenge, and I like my board members. So why not stay?”

Three years ago, faced with a divisive board, Stuckwisch was looking to work elsewhere. But community members and leaders urged him to stay, and some board members promised to be more cooperative. To help keep him here, the board raised his base pay about $17,000, bringing his salary then to $142,000.

Board members would not say what type of raise Stuckwisch will be offered this time around, but member Jim Hewitt called it a “modest increase, given that he has done so much for the schools.”

Board Chairman James Bridgeford praised Stuckwisch for his efforts to bring more accountability to the school division. He not only tasked school principals but also higher-level administrators with the job of helping students pass the state exams used to determine accreditation, Bridgeford said.

Board member Jean Shackelford called Stuckwisch a “supreme educational leader.”

“He is not an office sitter,” she said. “He is out in the schools. He works with the principals. He works with the instructional staff. He is an on-site superintendent, which I just love.”

Cheryl Ross, (757) 446-2443, cheryl.ross@pilotonline.com

a proven leader

During his first five years with the school division, Portsmouth Superintendent David Stuckwisch is credited with gaining full state accreditation for 80 percent of the city schools, up from just a handful before he came onboard.

(c) 2008 Virginian – Pilot. Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning. All rights Reserved.