NORTHAMPTON — Superintendent John Provost is a finalist to become the schools chief in Leicester and in the Athol-Royalston Regional School District, he confirmed on Monday.
“Whatever the outcome of those processes may be, I will remain focused on the students [of Northampton] and the work of making our district the best it can possibly be,” Provost, whose contract with Northampton extends through June 2025 but can be terminated with notice, said by email.
The Leicester School Committee is scheduled to interview four finalists for superintendent during hybrid meetings this week. Provost’s public interview is set for Thursday at 7:30 p.m., according to a meeting agenda. The finalists were named March 1.
Leicester Superintendent Marilyn Tencza is retiring in June and the district is planning to move its high school to the former Becker College campus. Tencza told the Worcester Telegram & Gazette in January that her replacement would be hired by the end of the school year and take responsibility for the high school project.
In the Athol-Royalston Regional School District (ARRSD), the new superintendent will be chosen following interviews with the School Committee during the week of May 9. The successful candidate will start work on July 1.
ARRSD Superintendent Darcy Fernandes is leaving the job at the end of her current contract and Provost said ARRSD “is in the midst of a successful district turnaround effort.”
“I have said before, I believe leading the district through the COVID-19 pandemic, reopening schools, and overseeing a plan to help students compensate for the academic and social delays they experienced during the school closure has been the greatest and most rewarding professional challenge of my career,” Provost said. “With evidence of a strong recovery underway, and the worst of the pandemic behind us, I have become more receptive to my next potential professional challenge.”
Provost has served as Northampton’s superintendent since 2014; he was chief of the public schools in North Brookfield from 2011-14 and director of special services for Agawam Public Schools from 2003-11.
Provost’s salary was $172,600 in the fiscal year ending in June 2021, according to city payroll records.
Gwen Agna, vice chair of the Northampton School Committee, said Provost had informed the committee of his job search and that “it’s not necessarily an anomaly” for a superintendent to seek a new position shortly after signing a contract. Provost’s current contract was ratified in October 2021.
“He said he’s looking for a new challenge and these opportunities came up,” Agna said.
Mayor Gina-Louise Sciarra said either party can terminate Provost’s contract with 120 days’ notice.
“While I appreciate Dr. Provost’s interest in a new professional challenge after having given so much to the Northampton Public Schools, I regret that we could be losing a powerful advocate for our city’s children as well as a skilled manager and visionary steward of the district,” Sciarra said.
Provost’s time as superintendent, Sciarra said, has been “a period of stable growth and steady improvement for our schools. I know that it would be very hard to find someone of his professional caliber and commitment to fill his shoes.”
Provost said he continues to devote his efforts to creating new educational opportunities in Northampton. Days ago, the state notified the district that it was approved to add a second Innovation Pathway program in health care and social assistance, which will allow students to take higher-ed courses and internships while receiving assistance like resume writing and job interview skills training.
The Massachusetts Food System Collaborative recognized the district’s partnership with Grow Food Northampton this month in its “Food Literacy in Massachusetts” report, highlighting classroom and school garden learning opportunities, field trips and internships for older students.
“I am going to do everything within my power to continue building programs such as these to provide our students greater opportunities for learning,” Provost said.
Brian Steele can be reached at bsteele@gazettenet.com.