by Stewart Lilker

In what has clearly been a breath of fresh air in the district, Interim District Superintendent David Nydick has been given high marks by everybody with whom your reporter has spoken. Seen here taking notes at his first meeting on September 6th, Nydick has impressed everyone with his upbeat and cheery personality, along with his open mindedness and desire to learn more about the district. Unlike the district’s past Supt. Moffett, Nydick has an open door policy and goes out of his way to meet with staff, parents and members of the community. Some weeks ago he told your reporter, "If you have a question, just give me a call and ask. If I don’t know the answer, I’ll find out and get back to you."

The district’s highly respected and newly resigned Magnet School Coordinator, Fern Eisengrub, said, "You have to look at the bright side, we have a new superintendent who’s really great (and a principal at the high school who is really making a difference)." [FNYN will cover the district’s loss of Ms. Eisengrub in a future column].

Former High School PTA Co-president Stephanie Cieslik also gives the Superintendent high marks. "Everybody really has good things to say about this guy. What a great change."

Eloy Yndigoyen, former school board candidate and Latino community leader told FNYN, "It sounds to me like he [Nydick] wants to learn about the community."

Nydick’s experience as superintendent in Jericho, one of the highest performing districts in the county, should bode well for the children of the Freeport School District. For years this district has freefalled, finally to end up at or near the bottom of the barrel, while the Board (all), administrators and staff (not all) and particularly the union president, Lillian Gutman, have watched, as this predominantly minority district has expected less than the best from its students, while making excuse after excuse why these children can’t perform. Both the Village and the District have paid dearly as a result.