Framingham Advertises for Assistant School Superintendent

Framingham Public Schools started advertising for an Assistant Sueprintendent on Wednesday, April 8.

The district has been without an assistant superintendent since last summer, when Mark Prince left.

The job description says the position ”oversees the day to day operations of the district’s schools and programs” and ”completes special projects as assigned by the Superintendent of Schools.”

The deadline to apply is April 20. The position, in which no salary range is listed, would start on July 1, 2015.

The assistant superintendent position has been one in flux since 2011.

Former Assistant Superintendent Christine Tyrie left the district for Nantucket in 2011

From January to June 2012, John Brackett served as interim assistant superintendent for the Framingham Public Schools, with Superintendent Steven Hiersche.

The position then was left unfilled until Prince started on July 1, 2013, under Scott. Prince lasted about 1 year.

In January 2014, the Framingham Superintendent’s office issued a press release that Matthew Brunell, who was COO of Building Excellent Schools would be the district’s next assistant superintendent.

The Framingham Teachers Association quickly questioned that decision by Scott publicly.

The Framingham School Committee, Scott and Brunell were unable to come to terms with Brunell for a contract, and eventually in late January, in a closed door meeting the 7-member School Committee voted unanimously not to hire Brunell or an assistant superintendent, at this time.

The following month, The Framingham School Committee Chair and Scott said the district would go without an assistant superintendent for the rest of the 2014-15 school year, citing financial reasons.

“Because of disappointing revenues from the state, the Framingham School Committee needs to proceed with caution in balancing the FY15 budget and has postponed the appointment of an assistant superintendent until the fiscal picture is more clear,” said Chair Beverly Hugo, in a February meeting.

Qualified assistant superintendent candidates should have, according to the ad posted this week:

• Master’s Degree in an educational discipline from an accredited college or university, but a doctoral degree is preferred
• Current and valid MA DESE license as a Superintendent/Assistant Superintendent.
• Minimum 5 years of progressive education administrative experience (preferably at multiple levels) including school and district leadership experience at an executive level.
• Demonstrated ability to lead the design, implementation, and management of large and medium scale systems.

According to the job posting the position would:

Planning:
• Coordinates the development of the school district and departmental goals in concert with the Superintendent.
• Serves as Chair/Facilitator on various committees and task forces as assigned by the Superintendent in an effort to support progress towards achieving the district goals.
• Assists in the development and updating of School Committee policies.

Community Relations and Communication:
• Works in conjunction with the Superintendent to attend school/public events as a representative of the Framingham Public Schools during school and non-school hours.
• Utilizes the media including newspapers, newsletters, community cable access television, the internet and other available means in a positive and proactive way designed to promote the programs underway within the Framingham Public Schools.
• Coordinate the dissemination of information, policies, regulations, procedures, and reports to School administrators.
• Communicates with the Superintendent on the needs of the district as perceived by staff, parents, community members, and other interested individuals/groups.
• Maintain a positive, collaborative, and mutually supportive working relationships with community agencies, parents, students, and district and school staff.

Federal and State Reports:
• Serves as a liaison with the MA DESE and district in regards to compliance with state reports/reporting requirements, grant management and compliance monitoring.
• Serves as the School District’s Liaison for home education and homeless student/families.

Educational Leadership and Management:
• Supervise and evaluate assigned personnel.
• Develop proposals relating to school re-structuring; site-based management, curriculum integration and assessment in conjunction with the Chief Academic Officer and the principals.
• Research and respond to inquiries from school administrators concerning building-based issues.
• Demonstrate and develop high academic and behavioral expectations, collaborative planning and program development, responsive management, and personal accountability.
• Ensure the appropriate implementation of policies and procedures regarding student discipline, scheduling, grade reporting, attendance and student activities in conjunction with the principals.
• Ensure implementation of local, state and federal rules, regulations, policies and mandates.
• Represent the Framingham Public Schools at District, Regional, and State conferences.
• Serve as Title IX coordinator for the District.

Finance and Budget:
• Review school budgets, both operating and capital, and make recommendations to the Superintendent.
• Advises the Superintendent concerning educational specifications for school buildings and facilities.
• Provide leadership for special projects or programs related to school operations.
• Review student enrollment and projections in consultation with principals and directors: and, inform Superintendent of changes or trends.

Other areas:
• Assists the Superintendent in contract negotiations.
• Serves as Superintendent in the absence of the Superintendent.
• Responsible for completion of other professional tasks as may be assigned by the Superintendent.