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Committee accelerates search for superintendent

Date: 2/8/2010

Feb. 8, 2010

By Courtney Llewellyn

Reminder Assistant Editor



LONGMEADOW -- The time frame for the Longmeadow school district's search for a new superintendent has been accelerated because all four finalists chosen by the Superintendent Search Committee are also finalists in other districts.

That's why the School Committee interviewed three of the four finalists at their meeting on Feb. 1.

Marie Doyle, superintendent of Carlisle Public Schools in Massachusetts, Brenda Lynn Needham, former superintendent of the Windsor School District in Vermont, and Wayne Woolridge, co-superintendent of School Administrative Unit 29 (Chesterfield, Harrisville, Keene, Marlborough, Marlow, Nelson and Westmoreland) in New Hampshire all answered a final series of nine questions at the meeting.

The fourth candidate, Dr. Nicholas Young, superintendent of Hadley Public Schools, could not attend the meeting.

The finalists were asked how the Longmeadow school system compared to their own, what their three most important accomplishments as educators were and what challenges they would focus on in Longmeadow, why they would like to be superintendents in the district, to explain a time they took a risk and what the outcome was, what experience they had in addressing severe budget challenges, what they would do during their first 90 days on the job, how they would work with town boards, what three characteristics their biggest supporters would use to describe them and to add anything else they felt the School Committee should know.

Needham said she'd like to be Longmeadow's superintendent because she currently is one and is looking at ways to grow and build her core of support in that position. Doyle noted the district as an outstanding system with a strong strategic plan and that Longmeadow is in a position to lead nationally with academic technology, and Woolridge said Longmeadow is an amazing, beautiful place he'd love to be.

When asked how much experience she had in addressing severe budget challenges, Needham replied "a lot." In Windsor, school budgets usually didn't pass on the first round, according to Needham, but she's open about making changes.

Additionally, she said that during her first 90 days in Longmeadow, she would "be very visible, gathering information and looking at anything I could get my hands on."

Doyle said she was familiar with difficult budgets as well and that she would stay current on what was happening with state budgets by meeting regularly with state representatives, communicating with the Select Board and Finance Committee and prioritizing needs.

During her first three months, Doyle said she would "listen, listen, listen" and get input and advice from everyone she worked for.

Woolridge, who said he has passed 38 budgets on their first run, said he would learn his budget inside and out so that if any issues arose, he could address them immediately.

"I'd listen, meet people, build relationships and learn what I don't know," Woolridge said of his first 90 days. "I want to build on the success that you already have."

In the days following last Monday's meeting, candidates made site visits to the Longmeadow schools and met with residents and parents at meet and greet events at the high school.

Mary Vogel, chair of the School Committee, said the committee should have a decision on who the new superintendent will be by Feb. 22.