Online survey, focus groups next steps in supt. search

Published January 1, 2020

By DAN TOMASELLO

LYNNFIELD — With the holidays now in the rearview mirror, the School Committee plans on kicking the superintendent search process into high gear in the New Year.

In a Letter to the Editor appearing in this week’s Villager, School Committee Chairman Jamie Hayman recalled that the committee voted last month to hire the Massachusetts Association of School Committees (MASC) to serve as a consultant for the search for Superintendent Jane Tremblay’s successor. Tremblay announced last November that she will be retiring at the end of June.

“MASC is the leader in superintendent searches in Massachusetts,” Hayman stated. “Their field director, Dorothy Presser, has deep knowledge of the Lynnfield community as both a resident and former School Committee member. MASC’s assistance will include consulting on the job description/requirements, community focus groups, Screening Committee composition, recruitment and marketing the superintendent job. The School Committee will make the final decision and approvals around job description/requirements, selection criteria, marketing, Screening Committee and ultimately the hiring decision.”

Hayman said an online survey will be administered from January 13-24, which he said will give parents the opportunity to “provide input on the traits they feel are important” in the school system’s next superintendent.

Focus groups will be held throughout the month of January as well. The first preschool and elementary parent focus group will take place at Summer Street School on Tuesday, January 14, beginning at 7 p.m. in the all-purpose room. The community focus group will be held on Wednesday, January 15, beginning at 7 p.m. in the Lynnfield High School cafeteria.

The Lynnfield Middle School parent focus group will take place in the cafeteria on Wednesday, January 22, beginning at 7 p.m. The second preschool and elementary parent focus group will be held at Huckleberry Hill School on Thursday, January 23 from 9:30-10:45 a.m. The high school parent focus group will take place on Thursday, January 23 at 7 p.m. in the cafeteria.

“This will be parents’ and community members’ opportunity to share the qualities they believe the Screening Committee and the School Committee should be looking for in our next superintendent,” said Hayman. “These sessions will be conducted by an MASC representative, who will then summarize the themes of the focus groups in a report to share with the stakeholders. Community members who cannot attend the focus group on January 15 and would like to participate are welcome to attend one of the parent focus groups. There will be separate focus groups for faculty and administrators.”

The School Committee and MASC will be reviewing the information collected from the survey and the focus groups on Wednesday, January 29.

Hayman said the School Committee will appoint the Advisory Screening Committee on Tuesday, January 21. He noted the Screening Committee will be reviewing applications, interviewing semifinalists and recommending finalists to the School Committee.

“The Screening Committee will be comprised of two to four members from the Administrative Leadership Team (ALT); three teachers, one from each level; two School Committee members; four parents, one from each school; and one community member,” said Hayman. “This important task will require Screening Committee members to commit to the meeting schedule. It is extremely important that members are able to commit to all the dates and be present for all the semifinalist interviews.”

Hayman said the deadline for townspeople to apply for one of the parent and community representative positions on the Screening Committee is Friday, January 10.

“In your letter, please identify the group that you wish to represent from the categories above and outline your qualifications for the Screening Committee,” said Hayman. “Applicants should have the ability to work as part of a team and have a strong interest in the Lynnfield Public Schools. Because the names of all applicants for the position of superintendent are confidential except those of the finalists, all members of the Screening Committee will be required to sign a confidentiality agreement and committee members must commit to keep the proceedings completely confidential.”

The Screening Committee’s meetings will be held in executive session. Applicants should send letters of interest to Jamie Hayman, c/o Lynnfield Public Schools, 525 Salem St., Lynnfield, MA 01940 or send an email to haymanj@lynnfield.k12.ma.us.

Hayman said an orientation meeting for the Screening Committee will take place on Thursday, February 27. The Screening Committee will select the semifinalists on Thursday, March 5 and the interviews will be conducted from March 9-12. The Screening Committee will present the list of finalists to the School Committee on Tuesday, March 17.

The School Committee will be conducting public interviews with the finalists as well as conducting site visits from March 23-31.

“Our goal is to appoint a new superintendent in early April, with the intention of that person beginning their tenure on July 1,” said Hayman.