Dear Editor:
I bring you greetings as our respective summer holidays draw to an all too early close. Moms are busy I am sure with the annual economic event known as “back-to-school” shopping. Dads are being heard saying, “Does s/he really need that?” Our students are dreading the fact that ‘sleeping in’ is soon to be a thing of the past. We are here at the Board Office and in the school buildings preparing for what promises to be one of the best school years ever for Hoboken. Your current school superintendent, Mr. Raslowsky, has already communicated with you concerning Opening Day for students (9/1) and the return date for teaching staff members (8/31), so I shall repeat none of that here. The primary purpose of this, my first letter to everybody, is to introduce myself to this wonderful community, and mention one or two of the items which shall occupy a major portion of my plate.
On the afternoon of July 7th, I met the members of the Hoboken Board of Education who were interviewing candidates for the position of Interim Superintendent of Schools. I understand that there were about ten candidates for the position. On July 14th, I was privileged to be appointed to the position by a majority (6-1) vote of the Board present at that meeting. Prior to July 7th, the last time I was in your fantastic city was about 30 years ago, and yes, the food (I forget the name of the restaurant) was delicious. My formative years were spent in Brooklyn and the Bronx, New York, so it is great to be once again close to “home,” a mere ferry or PATH ride away. I attended both high school (Regis) and college (Fordham) in New York and received my graduate degree in educational administration in Long Island (Hofstra). I have had the honor of serving the children of Wyandanch (NY), Newark (DE), Metuchen, Irvington, Roselle, Ringwood, and all of Essex County during my 25-plus years as a full time educational leader. Recently (2007), as an interim superintendent, I improved the educational climate in Plainfield, N.J. I am now here in Hoboken to share my skills, talents, and accomplishments with you, its people of all ages, cultures, hues, and preferences.
The Hoboken Board, in its wisdom, has permitted me to be present during the month of August in order to affect as smooth a transition as possible from the past to the present to the future. While on the topic of transitions, may I take a moment to congratulate the incumbent in his new role as the President of Xavier High School (one of Regis’ rivals by the way), and to thank him for his professional efforts on behalf of the children of his home town of Hoboken. I officially take the reins on the first of September, so up until that point, Mr. R. is totally in charge. As we move closer to that date, I shall exert more and more influence upon what we would like for the 2009-2010 school year. I shall be joined by a fiscal specialist (an average of 40 hours a month), and an Acting Interim Assistant Superintendent (an average of 4 days per week) in order to give you, the people of Hoboken, the type of educational leadership which you seek at this time. We plan to hit the ground running, knowing that there are several ruts in the road, and so we might trip from time to time.
A special “shout out” to those of you whom I met at the August 11th Board Meeting, and I look forward to meeting so many more proud Hoboken residents. As you know, my ‘team’ and I are here for about a year as the Board seeks a permanent Superintendent of Schools. Let it be known, though, that we intend to work tirelessly as though we were here to stay. Each and every decision will be made keeping the wants and needs of the kids first. This is not just a phrase; this is a promise, a commitment. We realize that there are a myriad of political issues which are rampant in the City, and that lines may have been drawn, and sides taken. There are wounds, some deeper than others, which are healing or (hopefully not) becoming infected. I suspect that the non-voting members of the community, the students under the age of 18, may not be on a side. They may very well be in the middle. That is where my ‘team’ and I are and shall stay – focused on education, and in the middle. After all, we just got here!
So let us begin what I shall be calling the DC (During Carter) phase of the operation of the school district; BC (Before Carter) shall soon be behind us. I pledge to you to lead with integrity, honesty, and courtesy, with regard to the ideas and conversations from the public of all ages, and yes, on all sides. Hopefully we can strive toward Healing Hoboken so that our children can become Proudly Proficient.
Sincerely yours,
Peter E. Carter, Interim Superintendent