A letter of response from the CSDB Advisory Board (and Search committee) To the Colorado School for the Deaf and Blind community – A response from Mr. Ron Harlow, Chair of the CSDB Advisory Board (and Search committee) to the CSDB Superintendent ad hoc committee’s letter dated March 29, 2004. This is in regard to the search and hiring of the next CSDB Superintendent. In reading of the letter, I am not sure if our point -- to bring in an innovator, visionary, and agent of change for the Deaf Education in the State of Colorado – came across to them. In my telephone conversation with Mr. Harlow, our message did come across. I was encouraged and enlightened. However we have a lot of work cut ahead of us. Mr. Harlow and I agreed that it is critical in CSDB’s time (and history) to bring in a very strong leader to lead the school for the next two decades. It will be one enormous task for the Search committee. I ask for your assistance and support. More to come. Sincerely, Mike Baer Chair, Ah hoc committee on CSDB Superintendent search committee michaelbaer@comcast.net For the betterment of Colorado Deaf, Hard of hearing, and Blind Education. ======================================== [Colorado Department of Education letterhead] 7 April 2004 Michael Baer michael.baer@comcast.net Dear Mr. Baer, Your letter to the CSDB Advisory Board dated 29 March 2004 was received at the school and distributed by mail to each of the board members. In addition, I requested copies be sent to the incoming members of the Board of Trustees. As the current chair of the board I am contacting you in the absence of Dr. Jaitly. She is traveling and due back the end of the week. Additionally, I requested that John Dickinson maintain communications with you. Without quibbling about exact definitions or meanings I can tell you that the current board has views that are quite consistent with the views you have expressed. The current Advisory Board is in fact the “Superintendent Search Committee” acting on the authorization of the State Board of Education and the Commissioner of Education. CASB has been retained to conduct the search process. As part of that process, CASB has sought input from focus groups composed of stakeholders and other interested parties throughout the state in order to better understand the desires of CSDB’s constituency with respect to hiring a new superintendent, ensuring that the search process is inclusive of those parties. CASB is also very capable of making sure that the best candidates for the position are made aware of the opening, and I understand they have received over 20 inquiries into the position so far. In addition, the interview process will consist of interview committees who will interview the candidates. The committees will provide their input to the board before a final decision is made. Obviously, members of the deaf and blind communities will be included in the committee process. In other words, members of the deaf community and stakeholders are already involved in the process and even more will be involved before the process concludes. In November of 2002 Cliff Moers, a member of your group, contacted me and I referred him to our vice chair, Dave Ek. Dave is the father of a deaf student at CSDB and a former physics instructor. Dave informed him about the process and an approximate timeline. There was a delay in the process; however, we have proceeded fairly consistently with the initial intentions. The process for putting together the interview committees is underway right now and we have not forgotten that Mr. Moers is interested in participating. We have diligently sought to make the superintendent search process as inclusive as possible of the desires and opinions of everyone throughout the state concerned about the quality of educational opportunities for children served by CSDB. It is the goal of the CSDB Advisory Board as well as its administration that all of our actions shall improve the quality of educational services provided to our students. To not be inclusive in our superintendent search process would be a disservice to those children. CSDB has achieved a certain level of prominence on a nationwide level. This year, for example, CSDB achieved full accreditation from a national accrediting body. CSDB outreach services are also being advocated as a model for other states to follow. Yet, CSDB faces many challenges in its quest to become a true statewide resource that maximizes educational opportunities for deaf and blind students wherever they may be. We share a common desire with you, which is that CSDB meets these challenges and does the best it can to educate deaf and blind children. If you have additional concerns about CSDB or its administration, I urge you to communicate those concerns with the members of the advisory board. I believe you will find us very willing to listen and discuss any issues you wish to raise. Ronald E. Harlow CSDB Advisory Board Chair