The School Committee has selected 12 community members to serve on the Superintendent Search Screening Committee, tasked with reviewing applications and holding preliminary, confidential screening interviews in order to recommend finalist candidates to be interviewed by the full School Committee.
In all, nine applications were received as of the December 23 deadline, said Massachusetts Association of School Committees Executive Director Glenn Koocher, who is leading the search process for the next superintendent for Holyoke Public Schools.
The screening committee will meet for five evening sessions in January so they can:
Review all submitted application materials and determine which candidates should be offered semi-finalist interviews;
Develop interview questions and then conduct interviews with their preferred candidates; and
Recommend finalist candidates to the full School Committee for their consideration and further interviews and site visits. Members of the screening committee are expected to provide their recommendations to the full School Committee during their meeting scheduled for Monday, January 26.
Under the search timeline outlined by Mr. Koocher, School Committee members are expected to select a new superintendent later this winter, with the new superintendent expected to begin work effective July 1.
“We very much appreciate everyone who offered to serve on the screening committee, and we were very heartened to see a tremendous amount of interest in supporting our search efforts,” said School Committee Vice Chair Dr. Yadilette Rivera-Colón. In all, more than 50 people submitted applications to serve on the search screening committee.
The 12 people selected to serve on the committee include:
Christian Carde, community member
Ryan Carrie, district employee
Sadie Childs Cora, district employee, parent/guardian, and community member
Karleen Lopez, parent/guardian and community member
Patty Lubold, School Committee member
Joan Matsalia, community member
Nestor L. Muriel, district employee
Allison Rodriguez, student
Deborah Rodriguez, parent/guardian and community member
Lisa Smith O’Connor, parent/guardian and community member
Yaraliz Soto, district employee, parent/guardian, and community member
Kate Sullivan Craven, parent/guardian and community member