PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Philadelphia schools superintendent Dr. William Hite is entering the final year of his contract. However, he isn't focused on an extension right now.
Hite has been in charge since 2012 and his contract expires in August of 2022. With a little more than a year to go, KYW Newsradio asked Hite if he's thought about an extension of his contract.
"I have not," he replied. "I'm too focused on getting young people back in schools right now."
Hite said this summer, he's concentrating on school labor contracts and improving school buildings. He plans to talk to the school board about his own future in the fall.
"What I've asked the board is, once we get children back if we could then have that conversation," he said. "I think that's when we should have the conversation and not distract from those things now. And the board has agreed that we'll talk about that sometime in September after children are back."
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Hite is paid $335,000 a year to lead the district. Mayor Jim Kenney, who appoints the school board with City Council confirmation, said he wants Hite to stay.
"I would love to have him back. It's up to him whether he wants to come back," he said, "I think he's done a great job. He's been a great image for the school district and he's been a great leader."
The school principals' union last year declared no confidence in Hite, and his most recent evaluation from the school board gave him grades of "needs improvement" in systems leadership and promoting student achievement.
Hite, for his part, wants to stay.
"In my heart, I love this work, and I love doing this work in Philadelphia," he shared, "so we'll talk about it in September."