Groton's Interim Superintendent Says Redistricting Plan Will Change

Interim Superintendent Randall Collins said Thursday Groton would end up with a different redistricting plan than the one adopted by the school board, to more effectively deal with racial balance across the district.

Collins, who took over as interim superintendent May 29, made the statement during an interview Thursday before his visit to schools. He said he would meet early next week with consultants studying Groton’s redistricting plan, and then put another option together.

He said the plan recently approved deals with racial imbalance at Catherine Kolnaski Magnet School, but creates issues elsewhere.

“My big concern is that we redistrict, we solve the Kolnaski problem but in another year we’ve created a problem at another school, so we’re back to redistricting. That’s not productive,” he said.

A lawyer for the Connecticut Department of Education told Groton in May that and five other schools with pending imbalances. The district has hired the Branford consulting firm Milone & MacBroom

Collins spoke about redistricting as well as his other plans as interim superintendent.

He said he plans to be visible in the coming weeks. During his first three days, he attended two awards ceremonies at Fitch High School, the induction of candidates into the National Honor Society, and visited two elementary schools.

He plans to attend two upcoming teacher retirement gatherings, the eighth grade promotion ceremonies at the three middle schools and speak at the high school graduation.

Collins also said he would sit down with each principal individually.

A Q&A with Collins about his upcoming work in Groton is below:

Why did you want the job?

"I’ve got a lot experience as a superintendent. My wife taught here, so we’ve attended many functions over the years with teachers and staff in Groton schools. Waterford is close, and I felt if I was going to do this anywhere, that Groton would be a system I could help when they have so much on their plate.  . . I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t think I could make a difference, and provide some stability and some direction to the board and the staff."

Can you give us an update on redistricting?

"Mary Anne (Butler), when she took over as acting superintendent on May 2, sent the redistricting plan out to a consultant firm and it’s actually interesting; it’s the same firm we used in Waterford. . . And I’m meeting with them early next week to look at their final results, and to put another option together. Option 8, the one the board adopted already, is not the one that will be implemented."

What about Groton’s racial imbalance? The district was supposed to receive a letter from the state about a deadline for addressing this.

"I talked to the state department (Thursday) and I’m waiting for a call back, but we have not gotten the letter yet.  Normally, after the letter comes, it’s four months (before) you have to submit a plan but not necessarily implement it. It doesn’t have to be implemented until after it’s approved.

(But) you don’t have more time. Because you can’t really do redistricting except at the beginning of school year, realistically."

What still must be done logistically with middle school consolidation?

"(Facilities Director) Wes Greenleaf has done yeoman’s work on this. I think if it’s humanely possible - and I believe it is - we will be ready. We need one more state approval (for the portable classrooms) and then we can really roll with it and get it done."

Is there anything else you feel it’s important to say?

"I think there are a lot of issues in Groton right now, but I’ve got 30 years of experience, so it’s a matter of us working through them. I think it’s going to require some patience on the part of the community because you’re not going to have answers on the third day on the job.

"On the other hand, it’s a good school system, solid, with good staff and they’ve kept things rolling despite of all the controversies going on.”