The Ad Hoc Superintendent Selection Advisory Committee, comprised of School Committee members Vice-Chairman Joesiah Gonzalez, Barbara Gresham, and Christopher Collins, will host public meetings to directly gather input from the community from 5 to 6:30 p.m. on the following dates and locations:
- Tuesday, March 26th, at Van Sickle/Renaissance Schools, 1170 Carew Street, in Room 117.
- Tuesday, April 2nd, at Central High School, 1840 Roosevelt Avenue, in the theatre.
- Tuesday, April 9th, at DeBerry/Swan Schools, 680 Union Street, in the cafetorium.
- Tuesday, April 23rd, at Brightwood/Lincoln Schools, 255 Plainfield Street, in the cafetorium
- Tuesday, April 30th, at Harris School, 58 Hartford Terrace, in the library.
Launched on March 4th, the district’s national search for a new superintendent is designed to be transparent and inclusive.
"These public input meetings serve as a platform for our community to express the experience, qualities and attributes they believe the district should prioritize in the search for the next superintendent," said Collins, who serves as chairman of the Ad Hoc committee.
In addition to the five public input meetings, the Ad Hoc committee has extended an invitation to community members who wish to actively participate in the applicant screening phase. That committee will play a role in reviewing applications, conducting interviews, and ultimately recommending a final slate of candidates for consideration by the School Committee.
The district has enlisted the services of an independent law firm and Executive Director of the Massachusetts School Committee Association Glenn Koocher to help lead the selection process. The SPS superintendent position has been shared with more than 1,300 nationwide sources, including the major superintendent training institutions and associations, Koocher said.
Detailed information, including application instructions and deadlines for superintendent applicants and screening committee applicants can be found on the Springfield Public Schools website at www.springfieldpublicschools.com. The School Committee anticipates finalizing the selection of the new superintendent on May 30, 2024.