The terrible tragedy that has engulfed life at Nitschmann Middle School has for the time being muted all other discussion on school matters--as well it might.
It would appear that former Superintendent of Schools Tom Doluisio may have set the chariot of catastrophe in motion when, a few years ago, he recommended Mr. Acerra for the principalship of Nitschmann even though the school's faculty opposed the choice. Mr. Doluisio could not have foreseen the consequences when the members of the school board voted to accept his recommendation--as well they might. A Superintendent of Schools is supposed to be a board's and a district's chief educational advisor.
Yet no one person's advice is infallible; and the "bite-back" of this particular suggestion on Doluisio's part will doubtless be felt in many lives, and for years to come.
How can future episodes of this sort be avoided? It might help, I think, to give the teachers a larger part in the selection of the principals under whom they work. In fact, it should be rarely, if at all, that their advice in this matter is ignored. With their training, they sensed that Mr. Acerra was not a good psychological match for the job he was asked to take over. They should have been heeded.
Also, I do not know just how much input the school board normally has over the appointment of principals and assistant principals. That input should be increased, until it amounts to rigorous oversight by a committee of the whole.
Considering the importance of school leadership, anything less than this is not good enough.