Over this school year, a variety of events have occurred that don’t add up: three janitors, one math teacher and two athletic directors left, and an Instagram account dedicated to spreading rumors about students and staff. 

Even though we have gone through all of this this year, there has been little to no communication from the school about any of it, whether to the teachers, students or parents. The only thing we have been left with this year is more questions than answers.

The departure of multiple staff members throughout the year, along with the arrival of new ones, coupled with the NYHS Rumors account on Instagram, created an atmosphere of uncertainty that was magnified by the lack of communication from the administration. These incidents, while perhaps individually manageable, established a pattern of limited transparency that left the NYHS community to interpret events without context from the school.

The search for a new head of school began in February and was conducted quickly and quietly. While an assembly was held and an email was sent to parents announcing that Rabbi Gabay was stepping down, the timing was compressed; staff, students and the broader community all learned of the news within the same 24-hour period. According to the board member interviewed, the administration itself was only notified less than 24 hours before students found out.

When asked about community involvement, the board member stated that consultants were contacted and previous candidates from years past were reevaluated, but there was no mention of seeking broader community input through methods like surveys used in years past.

When asked about the scope of the board role to gain understanding of their involvement in the multiple staff departures throughout the year, and the little to no communication about it, the response was: “The board’s job is to hire the head of school, and that’s the one employee that the board of directors is responsible for.” Other staffing decisions, including the multiple janitor changes and athletic director replacement, were not board decisions, leaving questions about where those decisions originated and why communication about them was limited.

The rapid timeline and limited transparency have left The Mane Idea perplexed. While the board may have acted with good intentions and within their defined scope, the hiring process seen this year shows the importance of clear communication and community engagement, even when time constraints exist.

As our school community moves forward with new leadership, the hope is that future decisions, both large and small, will involve more transparent communication and opportunities for community input.

Change, even when handled imperfectly, can be an opportunity for growth. As we look forward to next year, there’s hope that the lessons learned from this transition will lead to stronger communication, greater community involvement, and the stability our school community has been seeking. 

The Mane Idea Staff can’t wait to see NYHS thrive and to witness the positive impact these changes will have on our students, teachers, and families.