Use this search box to find articles that have run in our newspapers over the last several years.
Date: 4/14/2021
HUNTINGTON – Hampshire Regional High School Principal Kristen Smidy was selected the new superintendent of the Gateway Regional School District by a vote of 11 to 1 of the School Committee on April 7.
Smidy, who lives in Westfield, will succeed David B. Hopson, who is retiring this summer after 18 years as superintendent.
Smidy was chosen from four finalists culled from 22 applicants in a months’ long process that included two sets of public interviews on Zoom, as well as in-person meetings and many phone calls and conversations with constituents by a search committee headed by Chester School Committee representative Jason Forgue.
The other finalists included Gateway Pupil Services Director Kurt Garivaltis, who also received some support from the committee; former East Longmeadow Principal Gena Flanagan, and William Bazyk, superintendent of a rural school district in Arlington, VT.
During the final selection on April 7, members were asked to speak positively about each candidate by School Committee Chair Michele Crane. The comments about Smidy uniformly spoke about her enthusiasm, experience in a neighboring regional school district, and the overwhelmingly positive support from people in her district.
Russell School Committee member Lyndsey Papillon said that throughout the process, Smidy’s answers became more and more in depth. She said she reached out to current employees at Hampshire Regional who had “nothing but praise and respect for Kristen as a leader. It’s a devastating loss for them and an incredible gain for Gateway. She is a collaborative, effective problem-solver when faced with challenges only administrators of regional districts understand,” Papillon said.
Jason Forgue, who cast the sole no vote for Smidy, said he had been split all along between Smidy and Gateway Pupil Services Director Kurt Garivaltis, but in the end, he supported Garivaltis.
“First and foremost, I would like to hit the ground running – it’s important not to have too long a transition time. I do think some changes have to be made. Kurt offers changes and a smooth transition,” Forgue said. He said he took into consideration all the comments and feedback he received, most focused on these two candidates, and that he was “split basically down the middle.”
Brian Forgue, who served as the Gateway student representative on the search committee, endorsed Smidy, saying she has the “right exact mix of professionalism and enthusiasm.” He said while he had no vote, Smidy had his endorsement.
Smidy was offered the position following the vote. Her start date will be Aug. 1, with Hopson expected to retire at the end of August, giving them a month overlap to help with the transition.
“I feel the process was so respectful. They got input from all their stakeholders,” Smidy said. She said she tried to be as honest as possible in her responses. “I’m excited to make the change. I just wanted to make sure it’s the right move for both of us.”
Smidy called leaving Hampshire Regional, where she has served for over a decade, “bittersweet.”
“It’s such a wonderful community. People are happy for me, but anxious about a transition. It’s such an amazing place,” she said.