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Date: 6/22/2022
NORTHAMPTON – After finalizing the job posting during a special meeting on June 14, the Northampton School Committee is currently looking for applications for an interim superintendent for Northampton Public Schools.
The committee created the job posting to fill the role after current Superintendent John Provost became the unanimous choice to start as superintendent of the Hampden-Wilbraham Regional School District on July 1. Provost has served as the Northampton superintendent since 2014. Applications for the interim position are due June 27, and the district plans to make a decision on a candidate by early July.
According to the job posting, whoever holds the interim position would do so for up to one year, however exact terms of employment and salary would be negotiated behind close doors. The application deadline could be extended if there are not enough submitted, according to Mayor Gina-Louise Sciarra.
During the meeting, At-Large School Committee member Gwen Agna said she has worked under 11 different superintendents in her lifetime, three of which were interim. “I think it’s a very straightforward process, and I think it can help a district take a deep breath and pause,” said Agna, when referring to the interim process. “The committee really needs to think about what we’re going to be looking for in a superintendent.”
During the review process, Ward 5 School Committee member Dina Levi argued that the district “needs some stability” and was concerned about the idea of taking current administrators out of their administrative role when thinking about the selection process.
When going through the language, Levi ensured the committee used verbiage that reflects the district’s commitment to using DEI language in the job description, or “diversity, equity and inclusion.”
To accomplish this, Levi made sure that the DEI language was used in the introduction, qualifications, as well as within the section dedicated to description of duties.
Under the job description as written, the School Committee is looking for a candidate who either has experience as a superintendent or an assistant superintendent.
The desired candidate will also be tasked with the coordination of the Northampton District Improvement Plan, lead and collaborate with curriculum teacher leaders, and supervise and evaluate district administrators or other staff, among many other duties.
Ward 1 member Meg Robbins argued that the committee should choose someone who could “really put [the district] back together again” after a difficult two years within the coronavirus pandemic. She said she also hopes that this person makes collaborative decisions and works well with teachers and the community, especially as the administrative office overall continues to rebuild itself.
Provost said during the meeting that candidates must have “Massachusetts licensure” to consider them for the superintendent or assistant superintendent position, however, out-of-state candidates are allowed to have a comparable license.
The committee also agreed to create a screening committee to assist with the process of finding a permanent superintendent when the time comes.