Selectman Frustrated by Superintendent Search

Selectman chairman Brook Padgett expressed frustration last night over restrictions placed on members of the Superintendent Search Committee.

Padgett, the selectmen's representative to the committee, said he would like the board  to review all 34 applicants for the position of superintendent of schools.

The candidates are seeking to fill the position now held by Joseph Connors, who is leaving at the end of the school year.

Instead, the committee has been presented 13 names by search consultants from the Massachusetts Association of School Committees, which were brought on by the School Committee to oversee the search.

"I cannot for the life of me see why people [on the search committee] can't see who applied for the job,'' he said. "It's a screening committee. We should be able to screen.''

He said he wanted to bring this concern to the School Committee, but his request was voted down by his fellow superintendent search committee members. 

Interviews of the 13 candidates are scheduled for the next few weeks. The search committee will bring their top three to five candidates to the School Committee, which will make a final decision.

"I found it very frustrating,'' Padgett said of being unable to review all candidates. "I don't think there's any basis in logic or law'' for it.

Selectman Mary Ann Cotton said the decision was especially puzzling because the pool of 34 was relatively small.

Padgett noted it took longer to argue the point than it would have to review all 34 candidates.

The search committee is made up of 13 town residents from various backgrounds.