HATFIELD — A search for a superintendent to replace John Robert, who will be departing next summer after a decade at the helm of Hatfield public schools, will commence at the beginning of the new year, with a former superintendent again offering his expertise.
The Hatfield School Committee recently tabbed longtime resident Francis Gougeon to lead the process of finding a successor to Robert, with an 11-member search committee to be appointed to represent school constituents.
“I’m happy to provide assistance,” Gougeon said.
Gougeon, who served as Hatfield’s superintendent from 1986 to 1993, had a similar consulting role 11 years ago before Robert was hired, coming out of semi-retirement for a yearlong stint as an interim superintendent at that time.
Gougeon said he will bring his experience to identifying candidates who may be interested in serving in the small district, which has just two schools, Smith Academy and Hatfield Elementary School. Candidates are likely to be people at the beginning of their careers or near the end of their public service.
“You may have people looking for their first superintendency, or others looking toward retirement,” Gougeon said.
Still, he said, superintendents in Hatfield have remained in the position on average for close to a decade, which is longer than the state average.
The public part of the search will begin with advertisements posted in newspapers and other media outlets online Jan. 2, with finalists to begin interviewing April 1. The advertisements will outline the job description and salary, qualifications and expectations and procedure for applying.
Gougeon said his expectation would be to get eight to 10 applications, with those to be narrowed to three finalists. A screening committee will screen applicants to determine which go forward and which don’t.
There will also be a community forum in early 2020 for the public to be briefed on the process and to ask questions.
Scott Merzbach can be reached at smerzbach@gazettenet.com.
