NORWICH – More than a week after students returned from a controversial four-day leadership training retreat in the Adirondacks, some within the school and community remain vocally opposed to the program.
That undercurrent of disapproval regarding The Leadership Project was overshadowed at Tuesday’s board of education meeting, however, when parents of several students involved with the program, as well as one of the students himself, voiced their support.
The first to speak during public comment was Kurt Edwards, the father of two of the program’s participants who also served as one of the trip’s leaders. Edwards began by sharing the objectives of The Leadership Project, which he stated as being “to build student character, leadership skills and effectiveness in being a leader; to identify and further the process of instilling a positive and productive school culture.”
Being a part of the program, he said, has been one of the most personally and professionally rewarding experiences of his life.
“I witnessed students stretched physically, work through and even overcome fear, reflect, share shortcomings or missteps and in doing so they demonstrated incredible courage, desire, teamwork, mutual caring and respect,” Edwards said.
One of the most profound portions of the experience, he explained, was the final day of the retreat, when students gathered in small groups for a “school mapping” exercise where they talked about the changes they would like to see at their school and presented their ideas.
“It was indeed powerful as students shared visual representations of NHS, qualities of the school environment that they would like to bring to life, obstacles to success and personal behaviors that will support the concept of their ideal school,” he said.
As a Norwich graduate himself, Edwards said it was his hope that the program would continue and grow with more support and participation from the district’s residents, faculty and students.
Many of Edwards’ comments were echoed by the parents who added their observations of their children since their return and support for the continuation of the program.
Mary Ann Benenati said she has already seen a change in her daughter, Katie, who she said has talked about the experience every day since she has been home.
“I believe that every single one of those kids will make a difference in this school next year,” she said, communicating to the board her hope that they will continue to support the program in the future.
Her husband Steve, who also spoke, said he believed he too believed the students would have an impact specifically on the culture and climate of the high school. “I’ve heard those terms over and over again tonight,” he said, stressing their importance.
Tim Carson, parent of a senior and a sophomore who went on the trip, said he could see the change in his children’s faces as soon as they came home.
“I’m sorry to hear the negatives,” he said, about a program which he perceived to be very positive.
Brenda and Keith May also addressed the board, speaking about their daughter Kayla’s experience with The Leadership Project. Both stressed that it was not the physical challenges and adventure which were the most meaningful to their daughter.
“It was the relationships built with all of the other students,” Brenda May explained. “They were able to speak without judgment.”
Her daughter and the others on the trip were excited “to bring home what they learned and implement that with others,” she said. “What she will take with her, I can’t even begin to describe.”
Other parents spoke as well, including Al Austin, whose son Andrew was a participant.
“We want what is best for our students,” Austin said, commenting on the destructive affect negativity has on both the school and the community as a whole.
The last to speak on the topic was Derek Hughes, one of the 25 students who participated in the leadership project.
Yes, he said, they had climbed a mountain, rappelled down a 130-foot cliff and overcome other physical challenges. But it was what he and the others had learned by the experience and could bring back to their school which was truly important.
“Right now at Norwich High School, we have a lot of challenges,” he said, which he and the others are now ready to tackle as well.
Regarding criticism of the selection process, he said: “It really doesn’t matter what 25 kids went on this trip,” stating that any group would have walked away having learned similar things.
“The work we have done isn’t over,” Hughes said, explaining that as he enters his senior year, he feels that he feels a responsibility to his school to implement what he learned.
Don Chirlin, a former Norwich educator and board member, who had spoken out against the program at the last board meeting, also had an opportunity to express his opinion.
“The process was flawed from the beginning,” Chirlin said, reading from a prepared statement. “People were kept in the dark about any kind of leadership program taking place in the Norwich City School District.”
Chirlin took aim at the program’s planning process, lack of communication to the board, judgment used in the timing of the trip, the criteria for selection and the affect the selection process had on others in the school community.
“In my opinion, you could make a case for at-risk students to be included in this or other programs,” Chirlin emphasized. “However, the manner in which this was handled only put the students at more risk and publicity than before.”
He also questioned media coverage of the event and the leadership abilities of the district’s superintendent.
High School teacher Dr. Bruce Race, who serves as president of the Norwich Educators Organization, had a few comments about the program as well. Race said it wasn’t the merits of The Leadership Project itself he had issue with, but rather the process.
“In the future, I hope this is a more transparent process,” he said, one in which more faculty and students are able to participate.
The student participants of The Leadership Project will be giving a presentation on their experience and action plan for the coming year at 6 p.m. on Tues., June 23 in the High School Auditorium.
“The public is cordially invited to attend,” said Superintendent Gerard O’Sullivan, who said he hopes board members, faculty, parents and community members will attend.