Naperville superintendent's statement on reassigning principal
Naperville Unit District 203 Superintendent Alan Leis on Monday released a statement about the reassignment of Naperville Central High School Principal Jim Caudill.
Caudill has been reassigned to the district's central office next year as a result of plagiarizing a speech he gave to students last month.
His new duties will include helping with Central's renovation project and overseeing new programs to help struggling junior high and high school students.
Here is the text of Leis' statement, which also is on the district's Web site and has been e-mailed to many district parents:
"As many of you might well imagine, the board of education and I have received dozens and dozens of e-mails regarding Mr. Caudill's future. The messages have encompassed a wide range of views.
"Certainly, many followed the themes heard tonight: how much Jim is loved and respected at Naperville Central, what a difference he has made there, and how much he has done for students in his long educational career. I have been genuinely touched by their sincerity, passion and compassion.
"At the other end of the spectrum, a few wrote to express a completely opposite view. Several have agreed with my previously announced decision to reassign him.
"When an issue is as emotionally charged as this one, there is an unfortunate tendency to cast blame. In the past few weeks, it is has been disturbing to watch some point fingers at the press or individual teachers. The message, laced with anger, is that "they" caused this to happen.
"That is too easy. It gives one organization or one teacher (or group of teachers) far too much power. Most of all, it is just too simplistic.
"Anyone who has worked on tough personnel decisions knows that the causes and the solutions are never simple.
"People's actions are far more nuanced and complex, sometimes logical and sometimes illogical. Rumors with inaccurate information complicate matters even more.
"We could spend a lifetime playing "what if's." I have done some of that myself in the last couple of weeks. But it is time to put an end to that. It serves no useful purpose.
"More importantly, it takes our eye "off the ball" of making sure each student learns.
"As much as we appreciate public input, such as the sincere and touching e-mails many parents and faculty have sent us, and as much as I respect the right of good people to disagree, I have not changed my mind.
"Regrettably, Jim cannot continue as principal of Naperville Central. No matter how much you or I like and respect Jim, the rules cannot differ for people we like. And students have to know that we believe what we say, that academic integrity really is important. Our actions must match our words. The students are watching.
"Naperville Central is a premier academic institution, an amazing place to work and go to school. As such, we and it must stand for the very best in education.
"In reassigning Jim to the central office for next year, the message I am sending is that I believe he still has much to contribute to Naperville Central and to our district, albeit in a new role.
"To that end, next year I will ask Jim to continue to work on the facilities renovations projects, including Central, and also initiate an alternative education program for struggling junior high and high school students.
"In addition, I would like him to continue to work next year with the student mentoring program he has initiated at Central and to help us coordinate its expansion to other schools.
"Finally, disputes between students are the most frequent reason students get into disciplinary trouble. I hope Jim will help us look at an expanded peer mediation program at the secondary level, so that students can help other students resolve disagreements before they escalate into bigger problems that detract from learning.
"Jim's guidance background, and his uncanny ability to relate to students other adults can't reach, means he is the perfect person to assist us in this area.
"With regard to the principalship at Central next year, I am recommending that current Assistant Principal Bill Wiesbrook be appointed interim principal on July 1 for the 2008-2009 school year. I am confident that Bill's appointment will allow Central to move forward, while providing time for that school community to work together and focus on the future.
"This fall we will begin our traditional process to identify and select the best principal for Naperville Central on a permanent basis. Bill has not decided yet if he is interested in the position after this year, but regardless of his decision, we will go through the entire selection and screening process, including advertising and interviewing inside and outside candidates.
"We are, at our best, an exemplary educational institution. That is at the core of who we are and why we exist. Our friendships and our relationships are important, but, in the end, our mission demands that we provide the very best we can for each child in this system.
"Those children must be our single focus.
"So my advice to everyone connected with Central - and to all of us - is simply this: stay focused; look ahead, not behind; and ask yourself each day what you are doing to help our children reach their full potential."