By Joan F. Simoneau, Community Reporter
Marlborough – Former Westborough Superintendent Stephen Dlott is the front runner to serve as interim superintendent of the Marlborough Public Schools. Dlott was named as such during a special school committee meeting July 19. If approved, he will replace former superintendent Dr. Anthony Pope who resigned in June after months of contention with the school community.
Committee members Katherine Hennessey and Michelle Bodin-Hettinger have been contacting a list of candidates whose resumes had been given to school board members for consideration. Mayor Arthur Vigeant, who also serves as chair of the school committee, had pushed for a decision to officially appoint Dlott. But other members of the committee said that they wanted to wait until the July 24 deadline.
Dlott retired from the Westborough school system in 2005, where he served for eight years. He has filled vacant administrative positions in several area schools since retiring, most recently at Bartlett Junior-Senior High School in Webster.
“He is a uniter,” said Vigeant.”He has exceptional credentials and all the qualities that we need moving forward.”
Also considered for the position was former Framingham School Superintendent Steven Hiersche, who this week was offered the position of interim superintendent for the Hopkinton school district. Both Dlott and Hiersche were highly recommended by former Marlborough superintendents Mary Carlson and Rose Marie Boniface, which weighed heavily in the committee's decision to choose Dlott, said Vigeant.
Maureen Greulich, who has been with the Marlborough school system for 20 years, was named acting superintendent after Pope resigned.
Hennessey said her decision to post the position in a variety of places, including the Marlborough Public Schools website, was prompted by her conversations with officials at the Massachusetts Association of School Superintendents and the Massachusetts Association of School Committees.
A final decision on the interim superintendent will be made at the committee's July 26 meeting. Board members will also discuss and decide on the process and timetable for hiring a permanent superintendent.