Schools need a positive environment by John Oliveira

• The headline over Superintendent Pia Durkin's op-ed in Tuesday's paper “Excellence demands Teamwork” is dead on, however Superintendent Durkin is failing to build a team.

  Since becoming superintendent, a framework of distrust, poor communication, and animosity amongst the members of the school department has emerged.

  Leadership is about establishing a clear vision, sharing that vision with others so that they will follow willingly, providing the information, knowledge and methods to realize that vision, and coordinating and balancing the conflicting interests of all members and stakeholders.

  Today, no one is following willingly within the school department and Superintendent Durkin has failed to balance the interests of all the stakeholders involved.

  As a former naval officer, I know that I would be removed from command for allowing such a negative climate to grow. I was trained to foster high morale, provide my subordinates with the tools needed to execute their mission, and bring all stakeholders together to reach a common goal.

  We need to reassess this superintendent’s ability to foster a positive environment at all levels within our schools. As a community, we need to come together and provide our children a positive atmosphere for them to learn in. The distrust and animosity created by Pia Durkin leaves much to be desired in moving New Bedford forward.