Three school districts choose locals as superintendents

When it came to choosing a new superintendent, three county school districts went for locally-sourced candidates.

The beginning of fiscal year 2014 (July 1) marked the start of these three superintendents’ new jobs.

In Pittsfield, Jason P. “Jake” McCandless is the new leader, coming to the city after an eight-year tenure as the superintendent of Lee Public Schools.

Dr. McCandless has lived in Pittsfield throughout his time working in Lee (11 years), and his three children attend Pittsfield Public Schools.

Last year, the Pittsfield School Committee named Gordon L. Noseworthy interim superintendent after an unsuccessful superintendent search to replace Howard J. Eberwein III.

In late January and early February of this year, the school committee interviewed three candidates for the position, Dr. McCandless, Mashpee Public Schools Superintendent Ann M. Bradshaw and Pentucket Regional School District Assistant Superintendent William “Bill” Hart.

“I could find nothing negative about all three of the candidates,” Pittsfield School Committee Member Terry Kinnas said.

The only detracting statements made about the other two candidates were they didn’t seem to know enough about Pittsfield Public Schools and the issues that affect the district specifically.

“McCandless, on the other hand, came very well prepared,” said Vice Chair Daniel Elias.

Lee

Once Dr. McCandless’ future was sealed in Pittsfield, Lee started the process of searching for a temporary leader.

The Lee-Tyringham Superintendency Union initially voted to offer Hawaii resident (and West Springfield native) John “Jack” Rizzo a contract as interim superintendent.

When that fell through, the superintendency union chose retired Adams-Cheshire Regional School District leader Alfred W. “Al” Skrocki as Lee’s part-time superintendent. He will work at least three days a week, with the option of four or five as needed.

“I understand how school districts work,” Mr. Skrocki said, acknowledging he will likely be needed more often. “I’m not going to be holding to three days a week.”

The schedule will be determined by Mr. Skrocki and the chair of the Lee School Committee.

“It’s a 12-month contract with flexibility built in,” Chairwoman Susan Harding said.

SBRSD

Meanwhile, in the Southern Berkshire Regional School District, former Curriculum and Professional Development Coordinator David M. “Dave” Hastings is the new superintendent.

“I look at a leader as someone with honesty, integrity and vision, and that’s where I see Dave Hastings,” SBRSD School Committee Member Charles B. Flynn said.

Mr. Hastings was in his role as curriculum coordinator for two years, but he had his first job in the district in 1977 as a math teacher. His other experience includes time at Hillcrest Educational Centers and in the military as an interrogator.

Following the announcement of former Superintendent Michael J. Singleton’s retirement, the school committee interviewed four candidates, Mr. Hastings, Monson Public Schools Curriculum and Instruction Director Linda L. Carrier, Turners Falls High School Principal Patricia E. Gardner and Tewksbury Public Schools Assistant Superintendent Patricia A. Lally.

“The search team brought four very worthy candidates for us,” said School Committee Member Maria Rundle. “[But] none of them set off the fireworks that put them head and shoulders over Mr. Hastings.”

Posted by Catherine M. Krummey on July 5, 2013. Filed under Education News,News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry