"We were paying for his salary -- we thought he had to meet with us, but he would never."

Montgomery parents want more collaborative superintendent | Lisa Gartner | Education | Washington Examiner

Parents of Montgomery County students know what they want in retiring Superintendent Jerry Weast's replacement, and they're not planning to be shy about it at community forums this week.

Northwest High School parents are looking for a candidate "who honors diversity," said Stephanie Ineh, the school's Parent-Teacher-Student Association president. 

"I don't feel there's enough emphasis placed on some of the needs of the minority children," Ineh said. "The reading and math scores on performance tests vary greatly between the groups, and there's not enough information and support in trying to close those gaps."

...Terrianne Small said Gaithersburg Middle School parents want Weast's replacement to "focus beyond test scores, to create much more well-rounded students."

"I really worry what will happen to students who are not strong in just math or reading," the PTA president said...

...The wish-list of Joan Sabaca, co-chairwoman of the Special Education Advisory Committee, is short and simple: She says she'd like Weast's replacement to accept a meeting with her team.

"We have begged him over the years by letters to come sit down and talk about special education, and he has refused [and offered lower staffers]," Sabaca said. "We were paying for his salary -- we thought he had to meet with us, but he would never."

Read more at the Washington Examiner: http://washingtonexaminer.com/local/education/2011/01/montgomery-parents-want-more-collaborative-superintendent#ixzz1Cfa1nzXv