The third search this year for a new superintendent of a 6,000-student Berkshire school district is set to begin at the end of this month. WAMC’s Berkshire Bureau Chief Lucas Willard reports…
At the end of this month, the Pittsfield School Committee will again begin its search for a new school superintendent. Currently, Dr. Gordon Noseworthy is serving as temporary superintendent, after being selected by the school board last June, though only for the current school year. Former superintendent Howard “Jake” Eberwein left his position last June.
Alfred “Alf” Barbalunga, chairman of the Pittsfield School Committee, said that by getting an early start in the search process, they hope to fill the position by the end of February.
The School Committee has elected to work with Future Management Systems, a Boston-based consulting firm, in their search. Executive Vice President of Future Management Bill Garr says that they will begin posting for the ad online at the end of this week. Garr said that currently, his agency is doing preliminary work to hear from all members of the community what qualities they are looking for in a candidate.
The leadership profile created based on feedback from the community will be used by a search committee to narrow down the field of candidates, who will then interview for the job.
Barbalunga said that the school committee has raised the intended salary range for the position. He said that because a search for a superintendent is almost on a national level, candidates from other states may have higher salary requirements.
Future Management said that the most applicants will probably be from the Northeast.
This is the third search for a new superintendent for Pittsfield schools in the past seven months. Alfred Barbalunga said that experience combined with the salary increase and the help of Future Management Systems should prove successful.
The final vote to appoint a new superintendent by the Pittsfield School Committee is planned for February 27th.
Currently, the South Berkshire Regional School District is also undergoing a search for a new superintendent.