Marblehead superintendent search process nearing interview phase

MARBLEHEAD – The School Committee is on target to select a new superintendent of schools next month.Search consultants John Connolly and Albert Argenziano of Hazard, Young, Attea and Associates have advertised the position regionally and nationally. They are both former superintendents and have sought out candidates who might not be actively looking, but could fit Marblehead’s leadership profile, a profile they compiled from numerous interviews in November.By the end of January, the consultants will forward the names of their best five candidates to the Superintendent Screening Committee for consideration.The Superintendent Screening Committee will include School Committee members EuRim Chun and Kathy Leonardson, Marblehead High teacher Maryann Criswell, Grade 7 Special Education teacher Ann Davis-Allan, parents Daniel Albert (representing kindergarten-Grade 6) and Byron Rizos (representing Grades 7-12), Director of Student Services Robert Bellucci, Town Administrator Tony Sasso and the superintendent’s administrative assistant, Carmen Darisse.Leonardson noted that the parent representatives were selected randomly in a drawing, teachers were selected from a group of volunteers provided by the teachers’ union, the Administrative Council selected Bellucci and the central administration employees selected Darisse. Leonardson and Chun have been coordinating the search process since it began.The Screening Committee will meet in executive session at an undisclosed location Thursday, Friday and Saturday, Jan. 27, 28 and 29 to interview the consultants’ five candidates, discuss them and choose three finalists.The finalists’ names will be made public and the School Committee will interview them publicly in the Marblehead High library Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, Jan. 31-Feb. 2 from 7-9 p.m. During a day-long visit, each candidate will have the opportunity to tour the schools and community and meet the public.After the finalist interviews, the School Committee will choose at least one preferred candidate on Thursday, make site visits to their home district and begin contract talks. The committee expects to formally hire a new superintendent by the end of February. The new superintendent is expected to participate in next year’s budget preparation and officially take office July 1.If the talks fail or candidates withdraw, HYA will have a second set of candidates ready to place before the Screening Committee and another week of interviews will ensue.