Public input a priority in search for new superintendent

Westborough - The point that the Westborough School Committee - Karen Henderson, Bruce Tretter, Craig Harris, Stephen Doret and Ilyse Levine-Kanji - wants to make clear to town residents is this: No matter what type of search committee they prefer for finding the next superintendent, they all want community involvement and input.

“Everybody wants the same thing – public input,” Harris said. “I think this notion that’s gotten out that Karen, Steve and I don’t want public input just because we voted to have the School Committee serve as the search committee rather than have a town-wide, allencompassing search committee is utterly ridiculous.”

Harris was a member of the School Committee five years ago when it served as the search committee that resulted in the hiring of current Superintendent Anne Towle, who will retire at the end of Westborough’s 2009-2010 academic year.

“We decided then, like we have now, to serve as our own search committee,” Harris said, “and I think it worked out great. I thought at the time the process went well and I think we made a good choice.”

In an eff ort to ensure community involvement in the process of hiring the town’s next superintendent, the district posted on its website a threequestion survey that asks town residents to: 1) identify their role in town (parent, resident school faculty/staff, school administrator, town official or student); 2) list any and all critical needs/decisions facing the district in the upcoming future; and 3) add any additional questions or input they would like to offer for the School Committee’s consideration in the superintendent search.

Within hours of the survey being posted online, more than 100 responses had been received.

“I think there is a certain amount of semantics going on,” Levine-Kanji said. “I think everyone is in agreement that were looking for input and that town residents are going to be involved in the process through the survey, possibly through forums, possibly through a meet-the-candidates night.

“What’s been presented inaccurately is that Bruce and I want anyone other than the five members of the School Committee to vote,” Levine- Kanji said. “That’s not the case.”

Harris is said he believes the School Committee is unified in that sentiment.

“The School Committee wants to have the final decision,” Harris said, “not because we’re on some ego/power trip but because we believe it’s our responsibility.

“Before the Education Reform Act of 1993 the School Committee was responsible for hiring and firing everyone,” Harris said. “Those days are over. These days we have three primary responsibilities: 1) hiring/ firing the superintendent; 2) setting policy; and 3) the budget. So, hiring the superintendent has become a major responsibility of the School Committee and we’re not going to give that up.”

A number of issues will be resolved at upcoming School Committee meetings, including whether there will be an internal and/or external search or a combined internal/external search, what the timetable for finding a replacement for Towle will be, what the needs of the town are and what it wants in its next superintendent.