NORWALK, Conn. – Confidence remains that a new superintendent of schools will be in place on July 1 in spite of the many snow delays, Board of Education Chairman Mike Lyons said in releasing a profile of the hoped-for qualities in a new schools leader.
Six BoE members came out in the snow for an executive session Tuesday to unanimously approve the profile, which is very similar to the one developed two years ago in the search that netted Manny Rivera, Lyons said. The timing had gotten “close,” Lyons said, passing on an opinion from Norwalk’s superintendent search firm, PROACT, that getting a new super in place for the next fiscal year is “doable.”
The Board will begin advertising almost immediately.
The profile differs from the last one in two key ways: It specifies that the new superintendent must be willing to implement the strategic plan developed under Rivera and it announces that the board is looking for a superintendent who will stay here.
“The Board is looking for a courageous, strong implementer who is willing to establish roots in the community for a significant period of time, and who can move forward with reforms even in the face of resistance,” the profile states.
The Board also unanimously agreed to keep the identity of candidates secret until the new superintendent is announced, Lyons said. This is recommended by PROACT in order to maximize the quality of the candidates, he said.
Candidates have until midnight April 3 to apply, he said. Information on recommended candidates will be delivered to the Board by April 17. The BoE will meet in private with PROACT on April 28 to whittle down the list. Interviews will then be scheduled.
The Board met Tuesday in spite of the snow because it was running out of time, Lyons said. Attending were Mike Barbis, Heidi Keyes, Sherelle Harris, Rosa Murray, Artie Kassimis and Lyons, he said. PROACT’s Mike Hinojosa flew up from Texas and then drove up from LaGuardia to make it to the meeting, he said.
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