NORTHAMPTON — The Northampton School Committee is looking for members of the community to be part of a preliminary committee to help the district find a new superintendent by next summer.
In a Wednesday letter, the committee said the preliminary committee would review input from the community regarding the ideal qualifications and attributes that the candidate should possess, develop a screening rubric for candidates and hold preliminary interviews for those who apply for the position. The preliminary committee would then make recommendations on which candidates should move on as finalists for the role of superintendent.
“Although the School Committee makes the final decision in hiring our Superintendent, members of the Northampton community play a critical role in the process,” the letter states. “We invite members of the Northampton community of staff, faculty, students, caregivers and residents to join us on the Superintendent Interview Committee.”
Gwen Agna, vice chairperson of the School Committee, said that the preliminary committee would be formed by January and take about two to three weeks to review candidates. Finalists for the position are expected to be decided by March.
“We need to screen all applicants and then decide who we want to interview,” she said. “A typical search also includes visits to an applicant’s school district if they are working somewhere else currently.”
Agna also said she was encouraging members of historically marginalized groups to apply and be a part of the committee.
“We want to make sure that underrepresented communities have a seat at the table,” she said.
The district has been without a permanent superintendent since last summer, when former superintendent John Provost left to become superintendent of the Hampden-Wilbraham Regional School District. Jannell Pearson-Campbell has been serving as interim superintendent since Provost’s departure.
Members of the community interested in the position should send a letter or email to Annie Thompson, the school committee clerk.
Alexander MacDougall can be reached at amacdougall@gazettenet.com.
