Crunch Time in Supt. Search

A consultant told the School Committee that the search for a full-time superintendent should have begun at the beginning of the fall.

“If we are going to get the prime candidates, now is the time to do that,” said Senior Consultant William Garr of Future Management Systems, Inc.

The committee heard from three different consultant companies Tuesday night as they begin the search for a full-time replacement for former Superintendent Anthony Pope. A presentation was made by three companies, but Garr highlighted the need to begin as soon as possible.

“The further we wait and the further we go in the process the smaller the pile gets and the smaller the group gets," said Garr.

He suggested that October should serve for organization and position review with a four phase process ending in February with a finalist selection and negotiation.

Committee members referenced Pope throughout the meeting, citing the need to drill down and ensure the next choice would be a good fit.

“I’ve been on the School Committee for seven years and this will be our fifth superintendent," said Committee Member Michelle Bodin-Hettinger. “We as a committee need to be very clear about what we are looking for.”

The consultants said it was a matter of finding a proper fit for the school committee and the community by looking past the resumes and the numbers. Someone that looks good on paper will not necessarily be a good fit for the school, they said.

"The key to vetting the candidate is digging down past the people the candidate directs you to,” said Art Bettencourt, the executive director for New England School Development Council.

Each organization offered its strengths to the community. NESDC is a firm based out of Marlborough. Representatives from Future Management Systems touted its national reach, as did the representative from Hazard, Young, Attea & Associates.

The committee did not discuss the companies.