03/09/2011

Superintendent search progressing; board hopes to announce next school leader in mid-April

The School Board hopes to announce its next superintendent in mid-April.

Mary Townsend, board chairwoman, gave an update on the board's superintendent search at their meeting March 8, 2011.

Members of the ad hoc Superintendent Credentials Review Committee pored over applications all day Saturday, March 5, after applications for the positions closed Feb. 25. The position drew 15 candidates from nine states, Townsend said, "which we consider to be a healthy number given the economic climate," she said.

Interviews for selected candidates will begin in the next week, she said.

Townsend gave high marks to the 11-member committee charged with reviewing applicant credentials. The group included administrators, School Board members, Town Councilors, faculty members and representatives from the community at large. "It was a tremendous team, very experienced, and there was a high quality level of work done," Townsend said.

She said she will continue to give updates and the superintendent search continues.

The School Department is currently under the guidance of an interim superintendent, Ken Murphy, who has stepped in for the short term.

The board is looking for a permanent successor to Alan Hawkins, who retired at the end of December after a 42-year-career in education, the last five as superintendent of Cape Elizabeth schools.