High Marks for School Superintendent

Parents, children and school leaders in Tisbury are understandably sad at the recent news that their school principal, Richard Smith, will move to Oak Bluffs to take the helm at that elementary school for the coming year. Tisbury school committee members lashed out at Vineyard schools superintendent Dr. James Weiss last week for not including them in the decision-making process, but the words of anger more than anything carried the melody of lament for the loss of the principal they love. And that is a natural human response. In fact Mr. Weiss deserves high praise for exercising sound judgment and good leadership in his decision to shuffle a number of leadership positions in the public schools. The superintendent acted well within his authority in tapping Mr. Smith, a widely respected and visionary school leader, to take the helm at the academically troubled Oak Bluffs School. The move was clearly weighed carefully against the many factors in play, including the presence of John Custer, the well-respected vice principal at the Tisbury School, who will now move up to take Mr. Smith’s seat as principal. Mr. Smith has wisely been grooming Mr. Custer for this post for some time, and by all accounts he is ready to take on the added responsibility.

These are positive choices for both schools — and good for Mr. Weiss for stepping in with a steady hand to guide the outcome. Above all else this was a decision made with the best interests of the children in mind.

Meanwhile, Mr. Smith, who begins the job August first, has his work cut out for him in a school that has a fragile performance record on state tests and a high number of English language learners, students with special needs and students on the free and reduced-price lunch program. Richie Smith is no stranger to these issues, and has addressed many of them successfully in the Tisbury School.

We know he is up to the job. That’s why Tisbury feels his leaving so profoundly. But we also know the children of Oak Bluffs cannot help but benefit from this change