Kreutzer: I Support Collaboration

Leaders of the Katonah Lewisboro school district education unions are organizing now to protest the appointment of Paul Kreuzter as the next superintendent of schools at the April 26 school board meeting.

The main reason they give is Kreutzer’s “long history of contentious relations with unions,” according to a post on the New York State teacher’s union blog.

But Kreutzer said that though much has been made of his “supposed” alignment with Gov. Scott Walker on “breaking” unions, he was, at the time, representing his board of education.

“It's important to understand that superintendents work for boards of education,” he told Patch.

“They are hired to carry out the policies and politics of the board. I support collaboration and hold in great esteem professional educators,” Kreutzer continued. “I support the K-L board of education, which is committed to collective labor rights—and it is the law in New York. We will work together as a team as we all endeavor to enhance student learning.”

But his comments did little to reassure teacher’s union President, Sandra Grebinar, who is organizing a protest for Tuesday night's meeting, with support staff union president Jeani Granelli.

“I am concerned about his ethical compass,” she said. “He was the only superintendent in the state to stand next to Gov. Walker at that press conference, touting the end of collective bargaining. His school board also spoke at that conference—so was he speaking for them or for himself?”

Grebinar attacked the board's choice in a press statement last week because of Kreutzer's association with Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, who cut spending for education and ended collective bargaining rights for public sector employees in that state.

Grebinar also voiced doubts about Kreutzer’s fit with the district.

“Out of all of the candidates, was he the most appropriate? And why the lack of transparency about selecting him as a finalist? I have grave concerns about what kind of person he is, and about this board’s process of selecting him as the final candidate,” she said.

Kreutzer, who has been offered a salary of $245,000, will replace Robert Roelle, who retired in February. Michael Jumper relinquish the role of interim superintendent on July 1.

Board of education member Janet Harckham said she had the same concerns and was initially against hiring Kreutzer before she went to Wisconsin to interview him. But after meeting him and community members—from administrators to teachers to coaches—she changed her mind. "He is all about education," she said.

Kreuzter has also been criticized by residents here because of a complaint filed against him (posted with this story) by the New Berlin education unions with the Wisconsin Employment Relations Commission that alleges he "interfered with the employees of the union in the exercise of their 'right to self organization and their right to form, join or assist labor organizations to bargain collectively through representatives of their own choosing and to engage in lawful, concerned activities for the purpose of collective bargaining.'"

Kreutzer told Patch that had little doubt that the complaint—which is in settlement discussions, according to a representative of WERC—would be resolved amicably.

"We respect and work with organized labor frequently," he said. "Our first-name-basis relationships and familiarity has allowed us to make headway in numerous areas, with scores of 'sidebar' agreements made to the benefit of all concerned."

Lorey Leddy, the school district’s parent council president, said she and her fellow council members were discussing the selection and planned to attend the school board meeting to hear more about Kreutzer before commenting.

Kreutzer offered Patch some of his reasons for taking the position what he plans to do when he gets here.

“My wife and I researched regions of the country where school systems are highly regarded and where the commitment to public education is strong,” he said. “We were drawn to this area of New York for those reasons and others. After meeting with the board of education and understanding its sensibilities, goals, and feelings for the school community, Katonah Lewisboro became a place we could see our family living in, growing up in, and working in for the long-term,” he said.

Kreutzer plans to move to the area with his wife, Amy, a special education teacher who is seeking full-time employment in the area, and his six-year-old daughter, Kennedy, who will attend first grade next year in the district.

He also said he would work with the governance team to get up-to-speed on the long-range plan, and to learn more about its specifics. “It’s not just looking at a plan on a piece of paper—there are teachers, parents, staff members, community members and many others who help bring long-range plans to life,” he said.

Kreutzer, who was born in Wisconsin and attended school there—he received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Wisconsin, master’s degree from Marian College and Ph.D. in Educational Administration from UW—said though there would be much to miss about his home state he was looking forward to the change.

“We all grow and change and hunger for new experiences,” he said. “I think what I look forward to the most in coming to Westchester is meeting people, listening, learning and becoming a part of this great area of the country. I’m proud to have this opportunity.”

The school board meeting will take place Tues. April 26 at 7:30 p.m. in the John Jay High School library. Union leaders plan to meet at 6:30 p.m.

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