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Date: 11/4/2020
HUNTINGTON – A search is underway for a new superintendent for Gateway Regional Schools, to replace David B. Hopson who will be retiring next summer after 18 years in the district. The search committee, chaired by Chester School Committee representative Jason Forgue, held a virtual public hearing over the zoom platform on Oct. 28, to which the public was invited.
Forgue said he was disappointed that not too many joined the call, but Hopson said they had a lot of responses from a survey held earlier in the year. According to the minutes, 181 people responded, the largest group being parents and guardians. Staff members and community members also responded. Survey results are posted on the Gateway Regional website at www.grsd.org under school committee, superintendent search.
One participant on the call, Blandford Town Administrator Joshua Garcia, asked about the survey results.
Forgue said that the survey results were a “mixed bag,” with no definitive or clear direction given by the majority of people. He said that 50/50 or better want the district to continue on the same path, but be able to make necessary changes and improvements.
Forgue said one general concern expressed was student retention. Enrollment decline was listed as the top area for improvement in the district. Expanding academic and vocational offerings and funding were also listed as key areas for improvement.
Forgue said describing Gateway as a multiple town, rural school district will be pushed above other items in the search.
School Committee Chair Michele Crane, who is serving as secretary for the search committee, said they got a lot of responses asking for classroom teaching experience in a superintendent candidate. “That’s something we’d like to see, as well as experience at a regional school district,” she said. The survey listed classroom teaching experience as the most important professional qualification.
Another participant on the Zoom call asked Hopson what he thought would be the most important quality in a new superintendent. Hopson agreed with experience with regional schools, along with empathy for staff, students and parents, and some experience with central office.
Hopson said if someone has 25 years as an assistant superintendent after two years of teaching, does the teaching experience make a difference.
“Everybody is struggling. Teachers are doing a yeoman’s job trying to work under these circumstances,” Hopson said.
Garcia said that the collective knowledge of the school committee and superintendent would aid in the search. “You know what the issues are,” he said.
Garcia agreed that the six-town school district in a remote area should be emphasized, and suggested the committee remain flexible in the process, and not be too restrictive regarding education and experience. “To see who’s the best fit – I wouldn’t get discouraged by the number of folks expected to participate,” he said.
Hopson agreed. He said between the experience of the school committee members and the townspeople on the search committee, they have a decent pool of folks to look for a superintendent.
Forgue said the search committee would meet again in two weeks, as they have a lot of things to check off on the to do list.