He came in with a roar, but he’s managed with a whisper.
Superintendent John Gaiptman took over for outgoing John Woudzia at a time when public confidence and parental concerns were at an all-time high (and that’s saying something).
But since he came on, Gaiptman has managed to turn the school district’s tarnished reputation around. He even asked for the province to pay for a special advisor to look through the school district’s books – which have long been fraught with troubles, including a surprise multi-million dollar deficit that saw the ousting of a secretary-treasurer with a hefty $195,000 severance package after just four years of employment with the district.
To say he’s shaking things up is an understatement.
Then, perhaps most mystifying of all, Gaiptman has managed to make longtime political foes (Ahem, we’re talking to you trustees Michael Ewen and Casey Cook) cordial boardmates. Proof of the change, last year the labour-endorsed majority on school board voted against Cook as vice-chair. At the time, Cook lamented the decision, noting it would have been an opportunity to mend fences. Fast-forward to this year, the labour-majority school board elected Cook vice-chair.
It’s a significant turning point for the once-fractured board, Cook told The Record earlier this month and praised Gaiptman, saying it’s a “different” board under his watch.
“To be really clear, John’s been a huge, huge influence,” Cook said. “Before it was always about hoarding information and hoarding power.”
Gaiptman’s employment is based on a self-imposed month-to-month agreement (he actually wrote this in his contract), which means he’ll get no severance if he leaves. Why?
“When you play the movie of New West in your head, part of it is severance payments,” he said. “ I like the fact that every month I have to prove myself. It’s who I am.
I work better when I feel that I have to produce.”
So far, the Trustee Whisperer seems have met his mandate.
