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Tomorrow is the first meeting of the new Lowell School Committee. A key item on the agenda is a motion proposing a process for hiring a new superintendent–actually there are two similar motions by different school committee members (for more on that, see Sunday’s Column). Both motions call for creating a screening committee of community members to interview candidates. There are, however, differences regarding the number and makeup of the screening committee as well as other factors in the process. As with all school committee meetings, tomorrow’s agenda includes an opportunity for public participation on any agenda item. To speak at a school committee meeting, you must register by 2 p.m. on the day of the meeting by calling the superintendent’s office at 978-937-7614. Current Supt. Karla Brooks Baehr, whose contract expires in June, is not seeking renewal of her contract. She was interviewed yesterday as one of three finalists for the State Commissioner of Education position. Hiring a new superintendent is the most important task facing the new school committee and will impact the education of Lowell’s 14,000 public schoolchildren for years to come. For the actual wording of the two motions on the proposed search process, check:  more »