Community Member

This individual has been a member of the community as a Mock Trial coach and as a Board Trustee since 2013. These have been a rough few years for PVPA, with our administration at the center of this difficulty. Publicity has caused a number of issues. We should choose a person we know and who has experience at PVPA. Brent Neilson is the right choice.

Frank Newton

During the search process, we found two candidates who are not prepared to take on the institution. Brent is the person I am supporting for the position—he has shown his investment in students.

Mary Colwell

I support Brent for the position of Head of School.

Jenn Santerre

I wholeheartedly support Brent for the position. He is the right candidate because he has always given staff and students his undivided attention and support.

Lauren Reuter

I have worked at PVPA and attended as a student. I have seen Brent in many capacities and would like to offer my full support.

EJ Lafleur

Brent brings the stability that we need at PVPA. My more comprehensive reasoning is spelled out in the email that I sent to the Board.

This search process has brought us three candidates who are qualified for the position and enthusiastic about work at PVPA. I feel confident that, whatever direction we choose, we will end up with somebody who has the capacity to support the stability that we have been seeking.

Each Board Trustee will have two minutes to present their rankings and reasonings for the candidates presented.

David

Brent has shown his commitment to PVPA and its mission. My candidate rankings are Brent, Brett, and then Erica.

Marty

I reiterate what David has said.

Shannon

I have talked to a lot of teachers, and there is not a clear mandate. Staff seem to be torn on who they are choosing to support.

Jennifer

My ranking is Brett, Brent, and then Erica. The Middle School staff has indicated a desire for change, as many students are going to be leaving from PVPA in the coming months. Putting somebody new in the position will provide the fresh start that we need.

Maggie

My ranking is Brent, Erica, then Brent. I was unimpressed with Brent and was very impressed with Erica, but I worry about Erica's experience. Brent has done a good job in his role.

Firas

I have talked to many students, and it is clear among the student body that the rankings are Brett followed by Brent and then Erica. Brett has a lot of experience and an arts teaching background. He has shown a strong capacity to admit when he has made a mistake. He provided concrete ideas, offered action steps to student council, and seemed enthusiastic.

Jake

We should pay attention to the aggregate data from the interviews. My ranking is Brett, Brent, and then Erica.

Latrina

Brent has shown up time and time again during the crisis we have experienced at PVPA and around the world. It seems like there is some return to stability. Brent is my top choice, and Brett and Erica follow in a tie.

Jesse

It is very hard for me to rank the candidates. Between the two candidates, I would rank Erica first and Brett second. Erica seemed to have done her research. I want to honor the feedback of students and staff—they are the ones to decide whether we are ready for a change.

Tonya

I was on the Executive Search Committee, and I came out of the interviews with full support for Brent. He has shown loyalty to the school and has managed publicity well. He has made an effort to minimize negative press. My ranking is Brent, Brett, and then Erica.

Mindi

Brent has taken on this role for us several times now. I worked with him closely through the COVID closure of the school. He worked tirelessly on reopening the school and supporting students who needed it. Brent was in the building every day during the COVID-19 crisis. All three candidates were nice, but this is a superintendent/principle position. We need somebody with the necessary experience. My ranking is Brent, Brett, and then Erica.

Andrea

My ranking is Brent, Brett, and then Erica. Thinking about the fiduciary responsibility of the Board, I am confident that Brent has the ability to lead the school strongly.

Rick

Turnover is the most negative thing that is being said about the school. Brent, as a person who has stepped up for PVPA many times in the past, would be my top choice. If we take another candidate and they decide to leave, will we ask Brent to step up again? My second choice would be Erica because of her comprehensive arts experience. It seemed that she researched PVPA and had great energy. She just lacked the administrative experience.

Neil

I do not like this process. It feels like we are voting without voting. Leaders must lead and must have people willing to follow them. Brett received the number one spot based on the surveys. Erica came out as number two, and Brent came out as a very clear number three. I will wait until we vote to express my list.

Shino

I was very impressed with Erica, but I feel that she does not have the experience we need at this time. She is ranked third for me. Brent has great experience and priorities, and I have great trust in his ability to run the school. I am very concerned about the community feedback we have received about Brent. That being said, this has been a difficult time. Brett and Brent are my two choices for the position. Brett's decision-making process and approach to discipline seem great, and I am concerned about his lack of mention of Restorative Justice and employment history.

Sofia

My ranking is Brett, Brent, and then Erica. Student feedback seems to represent a general consensus. Somebody who will place emphasis on student voices is important moving forward. Brett seemed committed to listening to student concerns, strategizing, and offering creative solutions.

Fiona

My ranking Brett, Brent, and then Erica. Brett showed a willingness to listen and learn and ability to accept his mistakes. During his Board interview, Brett went as far as to communicate what a student representative said during that portion of the interview process.

Firas

I was told, repeatedly, that this process was dependent on evaluating candidates without taking into account past experiences. David, is this correct?

David

There is no way to eliminate people's experiences. Everything—including the history of school leadership—can and should be considered. There seems to be strong support for all the candidates.

Firas

It is impossible to forget what we have learned about a candidate through lived experience. I just must point out that having a candidate employed at the school can sway who speaks at open comment, so we should be mindful about the weight that we give to the public comments.

Members discuss implementing a test voting system to gauge how the Board is leaning.

Break from 8:11 to 8:20

During our last two heads of school, salaries ranged from $110,000 to $120,000 depending on budgetary constraints and hiring processes.

Administrators start at $85,000, and the Finance Committee believes that $130,000 would be a reasonable ceiling for the salary of the Head of School.