The Westword Student Newspaper at Westhill High School in Stamford Shines with Excellence-

The November issue of the Westword proudly illustrates its front page motto: "The test of good journalism is the measure of its public service"

Three main topics cast their spot light on three subjects that illuminate the value of public service in education: the impact of the Principal's imminent departure for another position, the 3 new Board of Education members plan for reform and lastly the pros and cons of rewarding teachers monetarily for students performance.

In the interests of time and space, I will focus on the main issue: finding a successor to the current Principal.

The lead subject is the impending retirement of Ms. Figluizzi, the Principal at West Hill for the last 12 years, to assume a position downtown as Director of Magnet Schools, a new position created by Superintendent Joshua Starr.

No less than 6 articles--showering encomiums galore -- are devoted to the leadership skills that Ms. Figliuzzi embodies: Read these buy lines to get a sense of the warmth and compassion she has generated and the obvious sense of loss that journalists feel speaking for the student body:

• The end of an era
• Hail to the Chief
• Tribute to Ms. Figliuzzi: Reflecting on the past...Preparing for the future {2 articles}
• 'My time here had made me very proud' (from an interview conducted by Sam Lagasse)

On page 2, the Editor in Chief Jackie Schechter and Associate Editor Annie Cohen thank their principal for "always budgeting vital funds that help us print" and for allowing editorial independence "not subject to prior review by the administration. Both this and past staffs are immeasurably grateful for and honored by your trust. Your willingness to let us tackle school issues that may often be unpleasant shows your true desire to help improve the Westhill community and to maintain an honest and informed atmosphere among students, faculty and parents."

The Editorial on page 12 reads: 'Figliuzzi should finish out the year.' This is a common sense approach because changing leadership in mid-year tends to be very disruptive to the student body as well as the faculty. To place an interim principal is not an answer because impermanentleadership is at best a stop-gap measure that too often causes confusion and insecurity as a result of a lack of vision. It is best, the editors claim for the Board of Education to methodically and carefully vet candidates to assess who would best fill the role.

Kudos to Sam Legasse for his interview. When he asked her what she has done to establish the ideal that students be given the environment to see that no limits be placed on what they can achieve not only in school , but in the outside world, here is how she responded: "I think my contribution has been in putting wonderful teachers in place to instill a vision in all of the students."

Finding such an administrator with this sense of vision is one more reason the Board should delay bringing in a new Principal until the fall of 2011.

I wish to commend the entire staff of the Westword on an excellent issue.