New board to discuss search process
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:
Motion 1: (By James Leary): Superintendent Screening Committee (“SSC”)
Request the entire Lowell School Committee (“LSC”) discuss the superintendent search motion outlined below for additions, potential changes and final implementation. The SSC will consist of the following nine representatives, two current City Wide Parent Council members, the Chairperson or their designee and a minority parent, the President of the Lowell Plan or their designee, the President of the Lowell Chamber of Commerce or their designee, the Chancellor of University Massachusetts of Lowell or their designee, the President of Middlesex Community College or their designee, one current Lowell Public School Teacher, chosen from the United Teachers of Lowell, one previous Lowell Public School Superintendent or an Assistant Superintendent, chosen by the School Committee, and one senior administrator from the Non-Profit Alliance of Greater Lowell.
The aforementioned organizations will select their individuals to the SSC and submit the names to the Assistant Superintendent of Personnel no later than January 15, 2008. The Mayor will announce the SSC membership at the LSC January 16, 2008 meeting. There will be a joint meeting conducted by the LSC and the SSC, which will take place at a public forum in order to receive community input into the selection of a new Superintendent to be chaired by the Mayor.
At its initial meeting, the SSC will determine their chairperson and the meeting rules, i.e. Roberts rules of Order or any other method so determined and agreed upon by a majority vote. The SSC will have at their disposal the office of the Assistant Superintendent of Personnel in order to review candidates, schedule interviews of candidates and obtain additional information as required for any one specific candidate in order to ensure that its goal and purpose is successfully met. The goal and purpose of the SSC will be to review all applications, select from the applications and conduct as many interviews as the SSC determines to be appropriate. This will take place during the month of February 2008, but no later then March 14, 2008. It is expected that the membership of the SSC and the LSC will actively invite candidates to submit applications to them for consideration. In addition, any member of the LSC or SSC can request consideration for any candidate to be interviewed by the SSC, including candidates submitting applications after the aforementioned deadline. The SSC meeting and interview process will be in formal executive session; however, any member of the LSC and support staff as designated here within may attend the interviews scheduled by the SSC.
The SSC will interview the selected candidates and submit the names of five finalists, listed alphabetically, to the LSC no later than March 14, 2008. Once the five finalists have been submitted to the LSC their names will be made available to the public. The LSC may extend or amend the search process should it elect to do so due to low number of applicants or other unforeseen events etc. The LSC will conduct public interviews covered live on LTC for each of the five finalists before April 11, 2008. The selection of the next Lowell Superintendent will occur on or before April 11, 2008 unless the LSC extends the timeframes as may be required due to inclement weather or other unforeseen events etc.
Motion 2: (By David J. Conway): Motion to Create a Superintendent Screening Process with the goal of hiring a new Superintendent for the Lowell Public Schools.
1. Membership of the Superintendent Screening Committee
Establishment of a ten (10) member screening committee to consist of representatives from the following agencies/groups:
§ previous Lowell Superintendent or Assistant Superintendent who will be chosen by the school committee and must be a current city resident
§ (2) members of the business community- one to be the President of the Lowell Plan or their designee and one to be the President of the Chamber of Commerce or their designee
§ (1) Community Teamwork, Inc.- the Executive Officer or their designee
§ (1) Middlesex Community College- President or their designee
§ (1) University of Massachusetts- Lowell- Chancellor or their designee
§ (2) City Wide Parent Council- the Chairperson or their designee and a minority parent
§ (1) Teacher’s Union- President or their designee
§ The current Assistant Superintendent of Personnel to serve the role of recording secretary as a non-voting member
§ Chairperson of the screening committee to be chosen by the members of the screening committee
2. A joint meeting conducted by the school committee and the screening committee will take place within a public forum in order to receive community input into the selection of a new Superintendent to be chaired by the Mayor
3. The Screening Committee will review the applications of all qualified candidates and conduct as many interviews as the group deems appropriate
4. The names of five(5) candidates will be presented as finalists to the Lowell School Committee, in alphabetical order without any form of ranking
The Lowell School Committee will conduct public interviews of the five (5) finalists and select one of the applicants for the position of Superintendent of the Lowell Public Schools.
The following timelines will be adhered to in the process of screening and selecting a new Superintendent:
February 4, 2008 Deadline for applications to be submitted to the office of the Deputy Superintendent
March 7, 2008 Names of five (5) finalists to be presented to the Lowell School Committee
March 21, 2008 The Lowell School Committee will publicly interview all finalists
April 2, 2008 The Lowell School Committee will select the new Superintendent