Q&A with Long Beach Superintendent David Weiss

David Weiss was appointed the new superintendent of Long Beach School District last May. Weiss is a 30-year resident of Long Beach and has more than three decades of experience in public education. With the start of the new school year Wednesday, Patch sat down with the superintendent recently to talk about what he's been doing this summer and what his goals are for the district.

Patch: You started your new position as superintendent of Long Beach School District on July 1. What work have you been doing to prepare for the start of school?

David Weiss: I’ve developed a detailed transition plan which I have been implementing since I have been appointed.  I have benefitted tremendously by having lengthy discussions with the Board of Education members, administrative team, staff and parents. I have been holding outreach meetings with community members all summer, and welcome continued input this fall. If anyone would like to invite me to their home or to a community group meeting, they should contact my office at 516-897-2104.

When you were appointed superintendent, you acknowledge that there are many controversial topics to tackle. What are a couple of the district’s greatest challenges, and how do you plan to address them?

What attracted me to this position was that Long Beach is a district on the move. We need to improve how we provide a challenging curriculum for all our students in a cost-efficient way. We also need to improve our two-way communication with parents, and find additional ways to work with parents and community members as educational partners.

What do you think is the key to developing a good working relationship between the superintendent and the Board of Education?

We have a great working relationship. Like most areas of a school system: frequent and complete communication and dialogue.

You are a longtime Long Beach resident. What may be the pros and cons of living in the school district that you are in charge of running?

I have had Long Beach sand in my shoes for three decades. It is a great place to live, and I am finding it a great place to work. There have been no negatives so far. 

Looking beyond your first year as superintendent, what are some of your long-term goals in the district?

To make it the best school system on Long Island.