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BOE Refuses To Renew School Superintendent’s Contract

By Andy Hart

June 20, 2013

Changes at the top level of Hartford’s leadership continued Tuesday night when the Board of Education (BOE) rejected School Superintendent Christina Kishimoto’s re­quest to extend her contract for two years.

The decision against Kishimoto is the latest in a series of departures from the highest levels of city government. In recent weeks, Hartford Fire Chief Edward Casares has retired, Mayor Pedro Segarra’s Chief of Staff, Jared Kupiec, has resigned and City Council declined to vote on renewing the contract of Chief Operating Officer Saundra Kee Borges. None of these departures are thought to be related, however.

Kishimoto’s current contract ends in June, 2014, leaving the BOE?about a year to select her replacement. The vote not to extend her contract was 7-0. BOE?member Luis Rodriguez-Davila was absent; Lori Hudson abstained.

Segarra, who is also a member of the BOE, said, “Since joining city government in 2006, I have been a strong advocate of education reform. During my tenure in Council as Chair of the Operations, Management and Budget committee and now as Mayor, educational funding has increased by $30.4 million dollars. I am comfortable with the decision executed by the Board of Education. Superintendent Kishimoto is dedicated to educational reform on behalf of Hartford students; however, achievement levels remain unsatisfactory despite the significant amount of resources invested. In response, the Superintendent has stated that improvements in academic achievement will take 20 years. That is unacceptable. Hartford students deserve a leader who strengthens and accelerates the quality of their education at a faster pace. As Mayor I will work with Dr. Kishimoto, the Board of Education, parents and community stakeholders to ensure a smooth transition to sustain and accelerate existing education reform.”

Kishimoto began working for the Hartford Public School System in 2005. As Assistant Superintendent under former Superinten­dent Steven Adamowski, she oversaw much of the reorganization of Hartford Public Schools into themed “academies.”