“Screening committee finalized as district moves ahead of statewide timeline”
During the School Committee’s latest meeting, they received an update on the district’s superintendent search, with Chair Shawn Brandt and Superintendent Thomas Milaschewski outlining progress on logistics and next steps while emphasizing the goal of maintaining broad community involvement. The discussion, held during the Feb. 12th meeting, focused on how the process is shaping up as the district moves forward without taking a formal vote.
Committee members were informed that the superintendent screening committee has been finalized and will include representation from the community as well as public safety stakeholders. The Massachusetts Association of School Committees (MASC) will provide facilitation support throughout the process, with an orientation session scheduled for Feb. 24. According to the update, the district is currently ahead of typical statewide search timelines, giving members flexibility as the process unfolds.
Much of the discussion centered on how finalists will be evaluated, including the scope and structure of site visits and opportunities for engagement with staff, families, and the broader community. Committee members expressed interest in ensuring that finalists are given meaningful opportunities to interact with stakeholders, even as they acknowledged the significant time commitment such engagement requires.
There was general consensus that a robust and transparent process remains a priority, with guidance pointing toward identifying three to four finalists for the final stage of the search. While no decisions were finalized, the committee indicated that further details on public engagement and finalist visits will be refined as the search progresses.
The update concluded with the understanding that additional information will be shared in the coming weeks as the district prepares to move into the next phase of the search and continue building momentum toward selecting its next superintendent, with the School Committee intending to hold a vote on April 6th—just one day before the local April 7th election—to select the new superintendent.
