Preliminary screening is being held in executive session; the school committee will select finalists.
WESTFIELD – A screening committee has begun work reviewing applicants for superintendent of schools and is expected to submit recommendations to the School Committee within two weeks.
The committee began its review earlier this week and will continue the process at a meeting scheduled for Thursday, School Committee member Laura K. Maloney said. Maloney serves as School Committee liaison to the superintendent search process.
“We are looking at the information provided by candidates in hopes of identifying those who have the potential to serve as superintendent here,” said Maloney.
Preliminary screening of applicants is being held in executive session, she said.
“The School Committee will select finalists for the position and the screening committee will submit names of several applicants for consideration to move to the interview process,” Maloney explained.
Superintendent Shirley Alvira announced last year her plans to retire in July, after four years as superintendent here. She currently earns $135,450.
The School Committee listed a salary range of $130,000 to $165,000 when it posted the position earlier this year. That is comparable to salary postings for new superintendents throughout the state. The salary range posted last year as part of West Springfield’s superintendent search was $125,000 to $145,000 annually and ranges posted by 16 communities across the state currently seeking applicants spread from $120,000 to $190,000.
“We expect to forward our recommendations by early April,” said Maloney, explaining 19 applications are under review.
The School Committee is expected to select more than two candidates for consideration, she said.
The School Committee recently completed public forums concerning characteristics and qualities Westfield’s new superintendent should have. The consensus is that he or she must be a visionary with budget experience, have ability to build staff and community support and be flexible in advancing Westfield’s public school system.
Screening committee members are: Westfield High School principal Raymond K. Broderick; Fort Meadow School principal Erin Fahey-Carrier; Westfield Education Association president Lori A. Hovey, WEA unit representatives Janet Snow, Sheila Conroy and Geana Delisle; parents Police Capt. Michael A. McCabe and Southampton Road School Parent-Teacher Organization president Ramon Diaz Jr.; and community representative Bette Babinski.