Hanlin ready to go as Wico. Co superintendent

Wicomico County Public Schools has a new sheriff in town, Dr. Donna Hanlin started Friday as the new superintendent. However Hanlin steps in with some major existing issues already facing the county.

Earlier this year the Wicomico County Education Association (WCEA) anonymously surveyed close to 900 public school employees, 54 percent said student discipline has been suffering.

Hanlin said she heard that loud and clear when she was interviewing for the position, but has already started formulating a plan.

“We’ll look at it together. We’ll look at it with community members. We’ll look at it with parents, with students, what are the strategies we need to implement to turn things around,” Hanlin said.

In fact on her first day Hanlin met with a two focus groups to discuss those matters and more. One group comprised of community members and teachers, the other, students.

Hanlin believes the root of the problem could be that students don’t feel connected enough and when that is the case they act out.

Another issue looming will come in the November elections when county voters will decide how the board of education should be staffed.

Right now all members are appointed, but voters could decide to have members elected or a combination of elected and appointed.

Hanlin tells us she’ll work fine with any of those options.

“The most important thing is whoever was on the school board, whether you’re appointed or elected, that you’re doing it for the right reason. And that is that you’re doing because students come first that you want the best for the school system,” Hanlin said.

As for PARCC testing and how Hanlin plans on improving scores, she said she still plans to talk with her staff to see what’s worked and what hasn’t.

Hanlin said the solution goes hand in hand with getting the students to buy into the curriculum.

Another matter, redistricting.

The contentious topic had parents and teachers protesting at public meetings last year, but no changes were made.

Hanlin knows this is something she’ll have to deal with, but since it’s just the first few days of her tenure she admits it’s something she’ll take time considering.

“It is not an easy task, when you redistrict you’re always going to have community members who feel disrupted,” Hanlin said.

Hanlin said for parents that want to meet her face to face she plans on continuing Dr John Fredricksen’s open door policy.