EAST LONGMEADOW — The East Longmeadow School Committee met with Tracy Novick of the Massachusetts Association of School Committees on Sept. 8.
The School Committee has contracted the MASC to help in its superintendent search.
Novick reviewed the timeline for the superintendent search. On Sept. 2, the MASC had hosted and input session with East Longmeadow High School’s staff and stakeholders. She said she would also schedule input sessions with each of the other five schools. Two days later, her team released a survey open to all students, parents, staff and the public.
“The better the input there, the more information you will have to make decisions,” Novick said.
The School Committee will review the job description with Novick on Oct. 20, after which the job will be posted and remain open for one month. She told the committee to expect 10 to 15 people to apply for the superintendent position. Asked if she recommended a nationwide search, Novick said it was an option and that any applicants from out of state are likely to have family here or been educated in the state.
The Superintendent Search Committee will refer a shortlist of candidates for the position in November. In early December, the School Committee will visit the candidates’ current school districts, and the candidates will spend a day in East Longmeadow’s schools. After the first of the year, the School Committee will interview the finalists in open session.
Novick recommended the School Committee limit the search committee to between seven and 11 members representing various stakeholders from the School Department and the community.
School Committee Chair Gregory Thompson proposed the search committee include two School Committee members, an administrator, a student, a parent, two teachers, a paraprofessional and two community members. School Committee member Kerri Jarzabski said students may feel less intimidated and be more likely to express their opinions if there were two of them. It would also increase the perspectives available to the group. Thompson agreed. After discussing including support staff, the search committee was set at 13 members.
Thompson said three people had been identified as interested in serving on the committee: retired teacher East Longmeadow Public Schools Cathy Hood, former East Longmeadow Cable Access Television Director Don Maki and Mapleshade School Parent-Teacher Organization President Katie Reilly, the latter two of whom were present at the meeting.
Thompson asked Novick if the School Committee should appoint a chair for the search committee or allow the members to appoint one at its first meeting. She said appointing one would send the message that the School Committee will provide guidance for the search committee, while allowing the body to select its own chair imparts a message that the committee has autonomy. Dalenta said, “I think there’s something to be said for the process of having the committee be autonomous.” However, she also saw value in choosing an unbiased chair and said there was “no one more unbiased than Don.”
Hood and Reilly were appointed to the search committee with Maki as chair. The remaining members were slated to be appointed at a future meeting. On Nov. 17, the Superintendent Search Committee will receive training on issues such as conflicts of interest, confidentiality and the state’s Open Meeting Law.
