NEW ROCHELLE, NY —
The New Rochelle Board of Education sent the following message to the Trinity Elementary School community today:
Dear Trinity community,
We are writing to share an update regarding the principalship at Trinity Elementary School.
We have received your many emails and messages about the selection process to fill the Principal position at Trinity Elementary School. While we don’t normally say anything about personnel decisions – and while there are serious constraints on what we can say under any circumstances – the comments and concerns that have been raised have been heartfelt, and deserve a serious response. We have advised the Superintendent that we will not be ready to vote on his recommendation until we are assured your concerns were given due consideration in the selection process.
We recognize there has been an outpouring of support for Michael Hilderbrand. He deserves it. As you know, he was the engaged, deeply committed, and very popular House IV Principal at New Rochelle High School before coming to Trinity; and in the period of several months he has endeared himself to students, parents and faculty at Trinity School. In multiple ways he has modeled the best leadership practices and behaviors we hope to see in our administrators.
The Board of Education appoints building principals upon the recommendation of the Superintendent. This is not unique to New Rochelle; it is a requirement of New York State Education Law. The candidate who has been recommended for the position has deep experience both with curriculum and as an elementary school principal. If that person is finally approved by the Board of Education, it will be because the recommendation was based on a rigorous process, not because we do not share in your affection for Mr. Hildebrand.
Please allow us to work through this process, and be assured we do not take our role in this decision lightly.
Board of Education of the City School District of New Rochelle