Opinion ID: 773170
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Ulichny's First Year

Text: 8 When Ulichny was hired in August of 1995, Bruce Connolly was the District Administrator for MCSD and Ulichny was initially assigned to serve as the K-8 Principal for the 730 students of the Merton School. However, shortly after Ulichny was hired, a new school building was opened and the Merton School was separated into two buildings/schools, K-5 (Elementary School) and 6-8 (Intermediate School). 9 As is the normal procedure for School Administrators, Connolly formally evaluated Ulichny's performance as principal during her first year. After reviewing the comments of teachers and staff, 4 Connolly issued a formal, written evaluation of Ulichny's first-year performance on September 23, 1996. Connolly concluded that: 10 This evaluator has worked in supervising numerous principals over the course of the past 20 years. I would not characterize Mrs. Ulichny's first year as a completely successful one. While she faced many issues and problems and dealt successfully with most, some of the negatives outweighed the positives. I hope that Mrs. Ulichny takes to heart the recommendations and suggestions made in the body of the evaluation to work on her interpersonal relationships with parents and staff. I also hope she works on issues surrounding power and control. I genuinely believe that if she would practice a less judgmental style and use less positional authority and power, she will be successful. I expect Mrs. Ulichny to draft a plan for improvement in each of the areas where recommendations were shared. This plan for improvement should be in writing. Together, we will then draft a plan for improvement and measurable outcomes for the 1996-1997 school year. It would be my desire and hope that this plan for improvement would mediate many of the issues and concerns that occurred during the first year. Since I will be leaving as of October 1st, I would encourage the hiring of an independent evaluator to judge the process toward the completion of established goals. 11 However, before any plan could be implemented to improve Ulichny's performance as a principal, Connolly resigned his position as District Administrator. Approximately four weeks thereafter, Connolly was temporarily replaced by Michael Budisch, who served as Interim District Administrator.