GREENFIELD — The chair of the committee that will find a new Greenfield School Department superintendent has chosen 16 people to serve alongside her, and the School Committee approved all of them on Wednesday.
School Committee member Jean Wall, who is heading the Superintendent Search Committee, said she chose more people than she had expected — she originally said there would be 12 to 13 on the committee, and instead there are 17 including her.
Wall began accepting letters of interest from parents, teachers, principals, union members, school administrators, business leaders, city councilors and anyone else who would like to help choose the Greenfield School Department’s next superintendent several weeks ago. She received 28 letters of interest and a few people spoke to her about helping.
Superintendent Jordana Harper notified the School Committee in mid-September that she would not be renewing her contract with the Greenfield School Department when it expires at the end of June. Then, last month, School Committee Chair Amy Proietti announced that the committee and Harper came to an “amicable agreement” that ended Harper’s tenure on Feb. 19. The district recently hired Dr. Judith Houle of The Management Solutions Inc. to serve as interim superintendent until a full-time permanent superintendent is hired.
The Superintendent Search Committee will consist of: Nancy Conan (YMCA volunteer), Paul Jablon (retired educator), At-Large City Councilor Christine Forgey, Andrew Vernon (parent), James Witherell (teacher), Nancy Putnam (principal), Maria Scotera (teacher), Jennifer Suhl (parent, deputy district attorney), Tara Cloutier (teacher and union representative), Autumn Mercier (special education parent), School Committee member Katie Caron, Janet Dickinson (special education director), Ruth MacDonald (parent), Lamar Batiste (parent), Vanessa Ricketts (Unit C staff), Lauren Rice (Assistant Superintendent’s Office) and Wall.
The committee will decide if everyone will be a voting member or if some will be alternates.
“It’s a great, diverse group,” Wall said. “Now, the School Committee will hold a special meeting on how to handle the search. The Search Committee will want guidance about key criteria, qualifications, experience and anything else.”
Wall said she and her committee would also like guidance about how to “sell the city” to candidates.
“We want them to want to be here, stay here,” she said. “We want them to know what sets Greenfield apart.”
The School Committee will also decide a timeline and whether the Superintendent Search Committee will look at all resumes or ask the Massachusetts Association of School Committees (MASC) — which the School Committee has hired to help with the search — to screen them first.
Proietti said she will schedule the special meeting for next week.
“We want to be transparent and inclusive through the entire process,” Proietti said. “We’ll be dedicating a portion of the School Committee’s website to keep the community up to date on what’s happening with the search.”
Wall said those who weren’t chosen to be on the committee but expressed interest will have plenty of opportunities to attend meetings and share their comments during the public comment portion.
“The bad news is that we couldn’t have everyone who wanted to be on the committee,” she said. “The good news is that we will allow everyone to have a voice in the process. Everyone’s voice will be heard.”
Wall said she believes the Superintendent Search Committee will meet “a lot” at first and when resumes are received. She expects the committee will begin its work within the next couple of weeks. It will go into executive session as it interviews any and all candidates who apply. Then, when the committee has narrowed the list to two or three, the School Committee will interview the finalists during public meetings. The School Committee will eventually vote to hire the new superintendent.
School Committee member and Mayor Roxann Wedegartner said focus groups will be very important so that parents have a say. She said MASC should also ask each School Committee member about their thoughts and desires for a new superintendent.
“Each member should give their ideas individually,” Wedegartner said.
MASC Field Consultant Liz Lafond will be working with the School Committee. She will manage the details of the search and recruit qualified candidates.
“We want Greenfield to find someone who fits Greenfield, who makes you happy and who will be happy in Greenfield,” Lafond told the School Committee.
Reach Anita Fritz at 413-772-9591 or afritz@recorder.com.