Published February 5, 2020
By DAN TOMASELLO
LYNNFIELD — The School Committee posted the superintendent’s job on the Massachusetts Association of School Committees (MASC) website on Saturday, Feb. 1.
The committee is in the midst of searching for Superintendent Jane Tremblay’s successor. Tremblay, who has led the school system since July 2014, will be retiring at the end of June. MASC is serving as the school board’s consultant for the superintendent search.
“The Lynnfield School Committee is seeking an exemplary educational leader to serve as the next superintendent of its public schools,” the job posting states. “The committee has identified four key areas in which the incoming superintendent must be able to demonstrate successful experience and ability. These include educational leadership, communication, culture-building and administrative/management skills.”
School Committee Chairman Jamie Hayman informed the Villager that the job description is “based on the feedback” the committee received during superintendent focus group meetings and the online survey that was administered. Twenty-one parents attended the focus groups.
In regards to educational leadership, the School Committee is looking for the next superintendent to demonstrate “a commitment to high quality academic opportunities for all students.” The school board also wants applicants to have “a proven commitment to data-driven instruction and collaborative curriculum planning.”
During a Jan. 29 workshop where the committee finalized the job description, Hayman said it’s important for the next superintendent to be able to work closely with Teaching and Learning Director Kevin Cyr.
“We want someone who is going to build on the work that Kevin has done and not blow it up,” said Hayman.
Additionally, the School Committee is looking for the next superintendent to show “evidence of creating a culture of trust and respect” and is “capable of facilitating, supporting and inspiring excellence in teaching.”
In regards to communication, the School Committee is looking for the school system’s next leader to demonstrate “high visibility and accessibility to staff, students and the community.” The school board also wants the next superintendent to be able to advocate for “school issues and needs” as well as be “approachable and responsive to individual concerns.”
The School Committee has also identified “inclusive culture” as a priority for the next superintendent. According to the job description, the next superintendent needs to have “success in promoting inclusiveness in a diverse learning community” and prioritizes students’ social-emotional well-being. The school board also wants the next superintendent to have a “thorough working knowledge of special education programming.”
In regards to administration and management, the School Committee wants the next superintendent to have “expertise in developing, implementing and overseeing a long-term district strategy” and have “experience in leading and mentoring a successful administrative team.” The school board also wants the next superintendent to have “extensive experience” with overseeing an operating budget as well as developing “a strategic plan for enrollment issues and capital projects.”
According to the job description, the next superintendent needs to be “licensed or eligible for licensure as a superintendent of schools in Massachusetts.” The School Committee is requiring the next superintendent to have a master’s degree, but prefers candidates who have an advanced degree. Additionally, the School Committee wants the next superintendent to have at least 12 years of experience working in education, including teaching. The school board prefers candidates who have at least eight years of teaching experience.
The School Committee also wants the next superintendent to have “central office and/or administrative experience.”
According to the job description, the School Committee is advertising the next superintendent’s salary between $185,000 and $195,000. Tremblay’s current salary is $198,900. The committee will negotiate the length of the contract after a candidate is offered the job.
The deadline for candidates to apply for the superintendent job is Friday, Feb. 28. The Superintendent Screening Committee will be reviewing the applicants’ resumes and will be recommending finalists to the School Committee.
Similar to the Town Administrator Search Committee and the Fire Chief Screening Committee, the Superintendent Screening Committee’s meetings will be held in executive session. An orientation meeting for the Screening Committee will take place on Thursday, Feb. 27.
The Screening Committee will select the semifinalists for the superintendent job 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.
During the week of March 23, the School Committee will be conducting site visits to the finalist’s districts. The finalists will be visiting Lynnfield during the week of March 30, which is when the public interviews will take place.
The School Committee will vote to appoint the next superintendent on Thursday, April 2. The school system’s next leader will succeed Tremblay on Wednesday, July 1.
Hayman said the district’s next superintendent will be “stepping into a good spot.”
