The Search Committee that will recommend finalists for the superintendent position “does the heavy lift” and is the “absolute engine that moves this process along for you,” David DeRuosi told the School Committee on Jan. 2.

DeRuosi is executive director of the New England School Development Council (NESDEC), the consulting firm the School Committee hired to assist with the search to replace Superintendent Carol Cavanaugh, who is retiring on June 30.

Consultants Judy Paolucci and Christina McGonagle also attended the session that focused on topics including timelines, focus groups, liaisons, recruitment, public outreach and more.

One major decision the School Committee made was selecting the composition and number of members for the Superintendent Search Committee.

The consultants advised not to have too many people, with DeRuosi recommending nine to 12. Having an unwieldy number means not all the members will have an opportunity to ask questions of the candidates, he said.

Paolucci noted, “If it is too large, [some members] will feel like they do not have a voice. It is difficult to get heard.”

Following a long discussion, the School Committee decided to go with 12 or 13 members. The board will be comprised of two School Committee members, one representative from the Special Education Parent Advisory Council (SEPAC), the assistant to the superintendent, two administrators (one central office, one building principal/director), two members of the school district’s bargaining units (chosen by the Hopkinton Teachers Association), a representative from a cultural community group (such as the South Asian Circle of Hopkinton (SACH) or English Learner Parent Advisory Council (ELPAC)), a community member without children in the district currently, a parent with a fundraising group and a representative from the Select Board.

The option of an additional person came about because the School Committee wants to ensure that there is representation across grade levels depending on who is chosen in other capacities.

Chair Nancy Cavanaugh will serve as a liaison to NESDEC as will new Human Resources director Sheena Martin.

The screening committee is tasked with the initial review of applications, preliminary interviews (usually six to eight, according to NESDEC) and the whittling down to three or four finalists. At that point, it is up to the School Committee to interview and appoint a superintendent.

The target date for that to happen is May 1. The new superintendent is expected to start on July 1.

Paolucci said it is not common practice anymore to make visits to the candidates’ districts for more insight. However, those visits can be factored into the timeline if Hopkinton so chooses.

Consultants expect numerous applicants

Both Paolucci and DeRuosi predicted the district would attract at least 15 to 25 candidates.

“Hopkinton is an attractive district with an outstanding reputation in the world of superintendents,” DeRuosi said. “You’ll do well, and we have a big reach.”

He said NESDEC worked with two districts in Rhode Island that recently attracted more than 25 applicants, and a person from Missouri got a superintendent’s job in a small district in New Hampshire.

NESDEC will set up the Search Committee with a tool members will use at home that ranks candidates to narrow the field, DeRuosi said.

Timeline outlined

At the next meeting, NESDEC will present an “application letter” that DeRuosi said is Hopkinton’s opportunity to “sell the community” to potential superintendent candidates.

“It tells about who you are, your successes … to see if there is a good fit” with someone who potentially would apply, he said.

After the invitational letter and online ad is posted, recruitment continues through March 5.

Paolucci outlined the rest of the timeline. Highlights include focus groups meeting in early February with some in-person and other Zoom sessions, development of a needs assessment/ideal profile by Feb. 22, review of applications starting March 6, interview/screening workshops in mid-March and recommendation of finalists to the School Committee on March 26.

From there, the School Committee is expected to conduct interviews the week of April 9.

In response to a question about “overlap” with Carol Cavanaugh’s tenure, DeRuosi said realistically, the new person probably could sit in on a night meeting or interact on a few late afternoons so it would not interfere with their duties in the district from which they come.

Paolucci acknowledged the schedule is tight but said that it can be tweaked slightly for things like snowstorms.

Committee members want to serve

The timetable became an issue when deciding who the School Committee representatives on the Search Committee would be. Except for Nancy Cavanaugh, all members expressed strong interest in serving.

However, both vice chair Jamie Wronka and member Kyla McSweeney had plans out of town in March that would conflict with some of the schedule and require changes to it.

McSweeney and fellow member Chris Masters both spoke in support of Susan Stephenson, a former teacher who said she had experience working with superintendents on grievances and negotiations.

Masters said he wanted to get more involved than he is now and “not sit” on his hands. He noted he had volunteered to participate in bargaining talks but was not selected.

Wronka said she also is a teacher pursuing a doctorate in education who has served on the PTO and SEPAC, while McSweeney said she has worked with a lot of school districts and superintendents in her day job.

When no one would “back down” about wanting to serve, Masters eventually said he would step back so the process could move forward.

Ultimately, Stephenson and McSweeney were chosen as the School Committee representatives, while Masters and Wronka will help select members of the search group.

DeRuosi said there would also be opportunities for School Committee members to work with focus groups.

The School Committee meets next on Jan. 9 and then again on Jan. 16 and Jan. 23.