BOE Starts Superintendent Search Process

The process of replacing Superintendent of Schools Jeffrey Villar began Monday night as the Board of Education decided they would view presentations from two prospective consultants on the search procedure.

The Connecticut Association of Boards of Education, located in Wethersfield, and  Cooperative Education Services, located in Trumbull, will give presentations to the Rocky Hill board sometime in the near future, chairwoman Raffaella Calciano-Coler said. The board is expected to hire a consultant to help with the search.

After a consultant is chosen, the board will decide if a search committee will be formed. Board members debated the topic for a good portion of the night.

"We don't want to make the decision in a vacuum," Calciano-Coler said. "We didn't do that with Jeff and we will not do that in the future. I do want their (the public’s) input.”  

CABE Executive Director Robert Rader gave a presentation and said boards are often against forming a search committee, because teachers on the committee sometimes do not speak honestly because they fear repercussions from their Boards of Education and principals. Also, one person can dominate committee meetings.

Rader suggested having the consultant conduct a series of confidential interviews with the public, teachers and staff. The consultant would then submit a detailed report to the board, he added.

"You want to get more input," Rader said.

Rader added if the search committee's pick is not chosen, often members wonder what was the point of forming it, even if there is a good reason not to select the candidate.  

If a search committee were formed, René “Skip” Rivard would be the chairman. Additional members, such as a principal, teacher and parent along, with other board members, would be added to the committee. 

The Board of Education has already received two applications from possible interim superintendents, which they will review. No decisions have been made.

Calciano-Coler stated the goal of the board is to have an interim replacement ready before Villar's last day, which is Jan. 31.

"That would be a goal to achieve," Calciano-Coler said.

The interim superintendent will be paid the same amount as the standing superintendent without benefits.

The process of hiring a new superintendent is expected to take about six months and the candidate could take over as early as June or July, Rader said.

“You are not going to do this in two months,” he said.

Rader told the board members that the pool of eligible superintendent candidates is smaller. He said often school systems would receive up to 40 resumes, but now, they are getting between 20 to 25.

"It is a hard job," Rader stated, however "I think they will be just fine. This is a good community."

Often superintendents move from smaller districts to larger school districts, Rader stated. In the case of Rocky Hill, the candidates will likely be from smaller towns and with less experience. However, they are often the hungriest candidates, Rader said.

Superintendents are also only staying in positions for about four to six years, Rader stated.

"I do not want people to assume they will be here for a long time," he said. "I am not surprised when someone leaves."

With the possibility of a school-improvement referendum looming, Rader added the board would want to target candidates with experience dealing with new buildings and technology.