The committee voted 4-3 to hire the Napa, Calif., elementary school principal over Westfield South Middle School principal Ronald Rix.
Suzanne Scallion has been named superintendent of schools in Westfield.WESTFIELD – Suzanne Scallion, an elementary school principal in Napa, Calif., with roots in Massachusetts, was voted by the School Committee to become Westfield's next superintendent of schools Monday night.
“I am very excited and I cannot wait to get started,” Scallion said from her California home just minutes after the School Committee voted 4-3 to hire her.
“It is an honor,” Scallion said of her appointment. “This is a chance for me to get back,” the former principal of Northampton’s Leeds Elementary School said.
Scallion, upon successful contract negotiations, is expected to begin her new duties on or about July 1. She succeeds Shirley Alvira, who will retire in July after serving the past four years as superintendent here.
School Committee members voting for Scallion were Mary Beth Ogulewicz Sacco, Mary Ann Cleland, Cynthia A. Sullivan and Laura K. Maloney.
Three members, Mayor Daniel M. Knapik, Kevin J. Sullivan and William Duval cast their ballots for Westfield native and South Middle School principal Ronald R. Rix.
Rix was a finalist four years ago when the committee hired Alvira as superintendent.
Sacco said Scallion, who holds a doctorate degree in education, “represents resilience and creativity.”
Members who support Scallion each praised her ability to succeed in California where budget restrictions in recent years have been worse than Massachusetts.
Also, Maloney said Scallion “has done as much as anyone can do to prepare (professionally) for this job.”
Cynthia Sullivan said she support Scallion because of her support for alternative education and cited a $6.6 million grant she assisted in securing for her Napa, Calif., school district to launch magnet schools.
Cleland also cited Scallion’s support of alternative education.
Kevin Sullivan and Knapik said they supported the “home grown” candidate in Rix with Sullivan adding “I expect him to be here a long time.”
The mayor said he wanted “someone vested in the city who will not take a year to get up to speed.”
“ Mr. Rix is committed to students. He knows the district and we need someone who can hit the ground running,” Sullivan said.
Duval added that “under Ron Rix’s leadership, South Middle School is one of only six schools in the country to be recognized for its literacy success.”
Scallion called Westfield “a fit for me. I have been searching for a district like Westfield. I like the size.”
Scallion will reside in Easthampton in a home she has owned since she was principal of Leeds Elementary School and before becoming principal at Alta Heights Elementary School in Napa in July 2008.
Scallion and Rix were two of four finalists for the superintendent position. Also interviewed for the job were Maureen F. Bingham, assistant superintendent in Swampscott, Melodie L. Goodwin, curriculum director for North Adams School District.
The School Committee posted a salary range of $130,000 to $165,000 for its new superintendent.