Jarpe Brandywine’s choice
Published 2:47 am Tuesday, May 1, 2007
By By KATHIE HEMPEL / Niles Daily Star
NILES-Deliberations took less than five minutes.
Brandywine Community Schools Board voted Monday to enter into negotiations with Dr. John Jarpe to be the district's next Superintendent of Schools.
"This job is not a stepping-stone for me. I would be here until I retire," Jarpe said.
In his second interview, Jarpe, 56, spoke to the need for a superintendent to be visible in the community. He was asked how he would accomplish that.
"If I were to get the job, my first task would be to move here as soon as possible. Be visible when pumping gas at the local station, buying groceries in the local stores, out cutting the grass, by letting people see I cut the grass and take out the garbage here like everyone else," Jarpe said.
He said he believed it was important for all school officials to show an interest in the sports the children play, the community events and the organizations that make up a community. "Being out there," he said, is important to him.
"We need to market, to sell the school district to the consumer as the best place to be in school. Perhaps with speaking to others here a message like 'come home to Brandywine.' We need to let them know data, about our grades and our programs. How to do it it's teamwork, commitment from me, all administration and staff," Jarpe said.
He stressed the importance of letting others know of Brandywine's commitment to moving forward. It was one of the main reasons he applied for the job.
"I have been most impressed with the people here. I met with the principals and administrative staff earlier today in this room. I was impressed at how they don't talk about only their own schools. It is truly a 'we,' a whole district to them. I am impressed by the collective level of knowledge of this school board," Jarpe said.
Board trustee Thomas Wentworth asked Jarpe why he would seek the position of superintendent at this stage of his career.
"I thought long and hard about it. This is the only job I am applying for. My roots are here. I began to become my best and learned the ropes here in Brandywine. I think there is something to coming back where you started,"Jarpe said.
He then quoted the epitaph on a poster celebrating Robinson's 50th anniversary of his debut in baseball: "A life is not important except for the impact it has on other lives."
"I think I can have an impact," Jarpe said.
Outside the middle/high school, during the short deliberations, Harriet Dean and other Brandywine volunteers discussed the interviews. Dean, who had been in attendance at all the interviews said, "I think they made a mistake moving the superintendent's office over to the Bell Center. His office should be right here."
She and others were talking about Jarpe's habit of walking his school corridors in the morning and being in touch with what was going on. He listed it as an important part of his daily routine.
Jarpe answered questions about his approaches to everything from financial management to the evaluation of teachers. He outlined his approach to multi-tasking and educational theories. He was asked of what he was most proud in his career.
"Probably it has been a long haul at Brown, but the transformation of the belief that some kid's can't make it and the blaming of parents or society for that is what I am most proud of. It's a changed school culture to one that believes every single kid can be successful with a solid education to take them to the next level. It may take some longer than others, it may take some special one to one work, but every kid can learn," Jarpe said.
Now Jarpe, who graduated from Niles High School in 1968, is ready to move home. His wife Mary Kay by his side, he will enter the final negotiations to do just that.
Pending contract approval, Dr. Jarpe will begin his new job, July 1.