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Screening committee named, first phase of West Springfield superintendent search

Date: 12/12/2014

WEST SPRINGFIELD – The West Springfield School District is one step closer to finding its next superintendent, as the screening committee has been selected and was announced at the Dec. 9 school committee meeting.

Mayor Edward Sullivan said the interest in serving on the committee was high, especially “noting that the level of participation is quite intense.”

The committee is made up of 16 members who fit into one of 10 categories. These categories allow representation from the entire school district and the community.

The categories that had more people interested than slots available were drawn from a hat, as to be unbiased.

The committee is as follows: Nancy Farrell and Michelle Serafino for the School Committee; Kevin McQuillan and Paul Heath for the administrator category; Katie Harrington, Melissa Stenwick and Kathy Breck for the parents category; Angela Valinski, Kathy Hillman and Jen Finn for the teachers category; Francine Bigda for the special educator category; Kim Hunter for the support staff category; Lida Powell for the Town Councilor category; Patty Parker-Flores for the Chamber of Commerce; and Nathan Bech and Linda Parent for the community member category.   
Because there was no interest for the paraprofessional category, two community members were selected instead of one.

The screening committee will meet with Pat Correira, field director for the Massachusetts Association of School Committees, for an orientation on Jan. 13, 2015. The orientation will be informational, Correira said. The committee will elect a chair and talk about what questions they will ask superintendent candidates.

Before this announcement, Correira conducted focus groups and a survey to hear the qualities that the school district is looking for in a new superintendent. The top skills and abilities for applicants, according to the 200 employees, students, parents and citizens surveyed, are excellent communication skills and financial management, success in improving and maintaining high academic performance, successful administrative experience, understanding and recognizing good teaching and the ability to attract and/or lead a high performing administrative team.

Of the focus groups that Correira worked with, she said the group of students had been the most insightful and responsive, giving her an idea of what an ideal candidate would look like for them.

“This is straight from the students. They wanted somebody who is personable, who is passionate about education, somebody who could relate to the community, somebody who is visible, who cares about kids and programs … a background in education,” she said. “And probably the most important, somebody who knows when they should be calling snow days.”

Correira said that these suggestions went across the board and that she was impressed.

“You have a really good school district here, and you should be extremely proud of what you are doing with what you have in terms of finances,” Correira said.

The screening committee will meet to prepare and finalize questions in January 2015. The Massachusetts Association of School Committees will present the semifinalists for the position on Feb. 24, 2015. Interviews will take place early in March, with the selection of three to five finalists coming after March 10, 2015. Former West Springfield High School principal Michael Richard has been serving as the interim superintendent and will until the position is filled.