Schools

Superintendent Search is On

The Salem School Committee has voted to start looking for Dr. William Cameron's replacement.

has started its hunt for a new superintendent.

At its meeting Monday evening, Committee members voted to start the process of looking for a new superintendent — Dr. William Cameron .

He has been at Salem Public Schools since 2007.

"To get the ball rolling, I see at least two ways of doing this one. We could cast a net right now looking to fill the position by September," otherwise "we can look for an interim of the 2011/2012 school year," School Committee Member Dr. Brendan Walsh said.

In a 5-1 vote, Vice Chairperson Kerry Ann Martin was the only Committee member to vote against starting a search.

Citing her time on various search committees, Martin said it takes approximately four months to find the ideal candidate.

"It's a lot of time invested," she said, adding that at this point, she's "not feeling" like the committee will find the district's ideal fit by September.

Addressing concerns about the timing of the search and summer vacation, Chairperson Mayor Kimberley Driscoll said from her experience "we'll know [whether or not we'll find a fit] well before August."

The size of the superintendent search committee and the logistics of conducting a search in the framework of the summer schedule will have to be discussed.

Committee members will opt to utilize the services of a consulting firm, which will cost "somewhere in the magnitude of $3,000 to 8,000." 

Committee member Kevin Carr said he believes the services of a consulting
company "are well worth it," adding that it has "worked out well before."

"With so much going on in the district and so many new things getting started," Driscoll said she believes there is an advantage to utilizing services aimed at helping the district find its best match.


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