Marblehead To Conduct 'Open' Interim Superintendent Search
MARBLEHEAD, MA — Marblehead School Committee members cited transparency and expediency given the late calendar date in opting to forgo a traditional search committee in the search for the next interim superintendent and instead conduct the search and interviews in an open committee format.
Committee members had requested an extra few days to consider the decision last week before voting unanimously to nix the screening committee prior to the “conversation with the community” held Thursday night.
(Also on Patch: Marblehead Schools ‘Conversation’ Hits On Budget, Flags, Transparency)
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“I love the idea of the whole committee being involved,” School Committee member Alison Taylor said. “I love the transparency of that. I also know the pitfalls of that mean that every single conversation that we have has to be in front of the candidate. Whether we choose them or not choose them we have to talk about that.
“And that feels a little uncomfortable for them. But I do think erring on the side of transparency is important.”
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There was some concern expressed that an open search could limit the candidate pool since in a traditional search those applying for an opening are kept confidential until they advance to being a finalist.
Chair Sarah Fox said, however, that may not be an issue given that many districts are already well underway or finalizing their respective research. At this point, it was indicated that candidates would more likely be retired former superintendents or people whose names had already become public in searches where they were not chosen for the job.
“Current searches are getting about a handful (of applicants) if that,” she said. “If you’re lucky. So, it really just depends on that piece.”
The School Committee opted to seek an interim superintendent for the second year in a row eight months after the district reached a separation agreement with former Superintendent John Buckey and current Interim Superintendent Theresa McGuinness said in January that she no longer wished to be a candidate for the permanent position.
Amid several other issues facing the Committee — including the potential of $2.3 million in budget cuts needed for the next fiscal year, a restructuring of the student services leadership after a no-confidence vote of the teachers union, the resignation of other district leaders, and an open letter signed by more than 700 residents expressing “a lack of confidence” in the Committee — it was determined that it was now too late in the school year to conduct an adequate search for a permanent superintendent who would start in September.
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(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at [email protected]. X/Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)
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