The new superintendent will replace Kenneth J. Grew who has agreed to serve as interim superintendent for one year.
LUDLOW – The School Committee has been advised by the consultant assisting with the search for a new superintendent to leave School Committee members off the Search Committee.
Consultant Patricia Correira told the School Committee that having community members serve on the Search Committee “shows that the School Committee trusts their judgment.”
“It’s their children,” Correira said.
Correira advised that a Search Committee to screen applicants for school superintendent should consist of three parents, three teachers including a special education teacher, one administrator, three community members including a senior citizen, a representative from either the Board of Selectmen or the Finance Committee and a student.
“Let the teachers pick their own representative,” Correira advised.
She said community members could be selected by lottery if there is a lot of interest in serving on the committee.
“That eliminates the finger pointing,” Correira said.
She said School Committee members do not want to be accused of stacking the committee for the choice of the next superintendent.
“Nobody would say that,” School Committee member James P. “Chip” Harrington joked.
The School Committee plans to advertise for the superintendent position in November and hopes to come up with a final choice by March 8.
The new superintendent will replace Interim Superintendent Kenneth J. Grew who has agreed to serve for one year.
Community members will be asked to take an online survey on the Ludlow public schools website regarding the qualities they would like to see in a new superintendent.
School Committee members have agreed that a new superintendent should have a master’s degree, with other advanced degrees preferred, and five years of teaching experience and administrative experience.
The new superintendent is to receive a three-year contract.
A Search Committee will interview semifinalists and bring three to five finalists before the School Committee to be interviewed publicly before a vote is taken.
School Committee members are still discussing the salary for a new superintendent.
Correira said the town of Palmer is advertising for a school superintendent and says it will pay between $125,000 and $140,000 for the position.
School Committee members will set a salary range at either their August or September meeting.