Superintendent candidates make site visits, share ideas

Date: 6/8/2009

By Courtney Llewellyn

Reminder Assistant Editor



WILBRAHAM The School Committee and the Hampden-Wilbraham Regional School District search committee for a new superintendent recently announced their two finalists for the position, which Dr. Paul Gagliarducci will be vacating at the end of the school year. The top candidates named were M. Martin O'Shea, principal of Minnechaug Regional High School, and Dr. Steven Schafheimer, Assistant to the Superintendent for Strategic Initiatives for the Brighton Central School District in Rochester, N.Y.

Both finalists conducted site visits of schools throughout the district last week, with O'Shea touring on Tuesday and Schafheimer on Thursday. The two shared their thoughts with The Reminder after they had completed their visits.

"I visited Green Meadows and Mile Tree, to see some of their programming," O'Shea said. "I was impressed by the morning meetings at Mile Tree. They're part of the responsive classroom initiative in the district. We're looking to see how those concepts can be applied at the middle school level."

O'Shea said his site visits were "very interesting and informative" and that he enjoyed the chance to see first hand the programs and staff he's only heard about at the high school.

Although O'Shea currently has a Master's of Education, he recently completed a Leadership Licensure Program for the superintendency, which was sponsored by the Massachusetts Secondary School Administrators Association, and will be starting his doctoral program with Northeastern University in July. He has been principal at Minnechaug since 2005.

"This is something I've thought about for a while," O'Shea said of his desire to step up as superintendent. "One of the reasons I applied is that I find this a very comfortable place for me. It's professionally rewarding. I feel that in my time as principal, I've gotten to know the strengths and challenges being faced in the future [by the district]."

Schafheimer earned his bachelor's degrees from SUNY Brockport, his master's from Nazareth College and his doctorate from the University of Rochester. He spent 10 years as a teacher in the Rochester City Schools, five years as a vice-principal, nine years as a principal, and two years in his current position with the Brighton Central School District.

He stated that the Hampden-Wilbraham district is similar in size and make-up to Brighton, and that he's longed to move to Massachusetts for a while.

Schafheimer stopped by four schools during his visit and noted that he was impressed with the autism programs and the fact that "the kids as a high priority came up often."

He added that he would bring enthusiasm, the ability to bring people together to attain a goal, patience and tenacity to the superintendent's position if he is selected.

Both candidates showed a marked interest in the Massachusetts School Building Authority's project for the high school.

"I'm terribly drawn to the construction project," Schafheimer said. "I have been through other projects ... but nothing of this size. New construction is interesting, but renovations are more interesting."

O'Shea said he was "anxious to see the building project to its fruition."

Both also stated they were ready to face the tough fiscal future the district is facing.

"The next superintendent will need to develop a strategic plan to go along with our vision statement," O'Shea said. "I'm very interested in recruiting, retaining and training new staff. I want to make sure we have the necessary [fiscal] resources."

"I'm glad to see the cuts [made this year] were as far away from kids as possible," Schafheimer commented. "I really recognize people did the best jobs they could [paring down the budget] while still being fiscally viable." He added that state budget cuts are "cutting into bone now" and that educators need to advocate "as strongly as they can at the state level."

O'Shea and Schafheimer are scheduled to be interviewed by the Hampden-Wilbraham Regional School Committee on June 17. Until a finalist is chosen, Donna Scanlon, who is currently Assistant Superintendent to Gagliarducci, will serve as acting superintendent.