Concerned parents discuss school corp's decision to offer Interim Superintendent the top job

SOUTH BEND, Ind. --- Concerned parents a part of the South Bend Community School Corporation voiced their opinions about the search for the next superintendent.

On January 15, SBCSC announced that Interim Superintendent and former Human Resources Director Dr. Todd Cummings had been offered a two-year contract from the Board of Trustees. John Anella, SBCSC board president, said the Board wanted to have ‘continuity of leadership’ after Dr. Kenneth Spells announced his soon-departure from the school corporation.

“There’s a lot of pros and cons,” Anella said. “We’ve wrestled with doing the search with not doing the search based on some of the issues that are confronting us currently.”

However, at Monday night’s board meeting, Anella had to back up the candidate after reports surfaced of discrepancies in Cummings’ resume.

“Dr. Cummings has offered us clarifications and we’re comfortable with the clarifications and we’re going to go back and talk about them and review them as a board,” said Anella.

Nearly 15 people voiced their concerns during the public comment portion of the meeting. The board is mandated by law to hold public comment regarding their superintendent nomination.

But people were most concerned with the selection process like Cecelia Edwards Brown who said she supports a traditional selection process, but said it’s not realistic for SBCSC.

“With the amount of money that the school corporation offers for a superintendent,” Edwards Brown said. “I don’t think we can get the best of the best because we’re not offering the best of the best money to get.”

According to Dr. Spells current contract, his annual salary is $190,000 plus benefits. The official vote on whether or not Dr. Cummings will become the next superintendent will take place on February 4.