Interim School Superintendent Willing to Stay Longer if Board Approves

Pinellas School Board members  showed support last week for negotiating a contract with Superintendent John A. Stewart through the 2012-13 school year.

The after . Stewart had pledged to stay through December of 2011, but said he recently decided that he would like to stay longer, according to a news release.

“During the winter break I spent much time in reflection of what we have been doing and what we have in progress in the district,” Stewart wrote board members in an e-mail. “I have decided to ask you for the privilege of negotiating with you for a contract that will allow me to stay in the district until July 2013.”

Board member Terry Krassner said from the board table on Jan. 10 that she would be in favor of opening contract negotiations with Stewart at a February workshop.

“This is something I feel great about, that we do have a superintendent and a board that really does want to make things better all in the name of our students,” Krassner said. “I just feel great about the momentum. I want to keep that momentum going.”

In the four months since the board hired him, Stewart has spearheaded many projects, including a middle school reform initiative and a program to assist disruptive students. He also has launched an , who .

The former Polk County school superintendent has garnered support from a wide array of stakeholders, including the Pinellas Classroom Teachers Association and the Pinellas Education Foundation. Stewart’s recent decision to conduct an organization and management study to determine if the district can cut costs while raising the bar on quality has particularly endeared him to School Board members, according to a news release.

But his main focus has been on raising student achievement. More time in the district will allow the roots of his vision for educating all students to take hold and grow, Stewart said.

“I really only have two goals,” he told principals in a recent weekly video message. “They are to get everyone reading at grade level and to get everybody proficient in mathematics so they can be ready for college or be prepared to go to work.”

Under his current contract, Stewart makes $12,000 a month. A new amount could be negotiated if board members agree they want Stewart to stay in the district.