Hopkinton School Committee forms 12-member interview panel, appoints two members to screen candidates for director of student services

The Hopkinton School Committee on April 9 voted to appoint two committee members to a 12-person interview panel and to establish that panel as an official subcommittee to screen candidates for the district’s director of student services.

Superintendent Carol Kavanaugh told the committee the district has 14 applicants for the position, about seven of whom appear to hold the special-education administrator license and related experience the district requires. The posting closes Friday, April 11; screening of applications is expected to finish by the Monday after the meeting. A large-panel interview session is scheduled for Thursday, April 17 at the Hopkinton Public Schools central office, and a public "meet the candidates" night is planned for Tuesday, April 29. The superintendent said the committee could expect a recommended finalist at the May 1 regular school committee meeting.

Kavanaugh said she and Evan Bishop are working closely on the search and described the planned 12-member interview panel’s composition: two school committee members, one CPAC member, one additional special-education parent, a building principal, a building assistant principal, a special-education team chair, one of the special-education directors for curriculum, instruction and assessment, two teachers (one moderate special-education teacher and one intensive special-education teacher), a related-services provider and a staff member from the student services administrative office. The panel will interview candidates and provide feedback to Kavanaugh and the district administrators who are part of the screening team.

During the meeting the committee moved to appoint Kyla and Jamie as the two school committee representatives on the interview panel. The committee then voted to establish the described interview panel as a subcommittee of the school committee and directed the appointed members and other panelists to be sworn in at town hall before the April 17 interviews.

Committee members and the superintendent discussed timing around the incumbent director’s contract. Kavanaugh said current Director of Student Services Mrs. Hanscomb’s contract expires June 30, 2025, and Hanscomb has indicated an intent to retire effective September 2025; Kavanaugh explained the district typically would not extend a contract past June 30 because that would create a pay gap if a successor were not hired to begin July 1. Kavanaugh said the district might, on a per-diem basis, ask the current director to assist with transition tasks such as explaining grant administration and transportation procedures to a new hire.

Committee members pressed for an expedited timeline so strong candidates do not take positions elsewhere. Kavanaugh said roughly seven applicants currently appear credentialed and viable for the role. She described the district’s prior process (a similar panel and a meet-the-candidates night) and said the same steps will be used this search.

After completing the hiring-panel votes, the committee unanimously voted to move into executive session under Massachusetts General Laws chapter 30A, section 21(a)(2) to discuss strategy with respect to contract negotiations with a superintendent candidate and to adjourn in executive session. The motion was made and seconded, and the committee conducted a roll call vote approving the executive session.

Votes at a glance: - Motion to appoint Kyla and Jamie as the school committee representatives on the interview panel: Passed (roll call recorded in meeting; yes votes recorded for Chris, Jamie, Kyla, Susan and one additional member; tally recorded as 5 yes, 0 no, 0 abstain). - Motion to establish the described interview panel as a subcommittee: Passed (roll call recorded similarly; tally recorded as 5 yes, 0 no, 0 abstain). - Motion to move into executive session under MGL c.30A, §21(a)(2) to discuss strategy regarding superintendent contract negotiations and to adjourn in executive session: Passed (roll call recorded; tally recorded as 5 yes, 0 no, 0 abstain).

The superintendent and committee members emphasized that the next superintendent will work most closely with the new director of student services, which informed their decision to include district administrators in the screening. Kavanaugh said the panel will offer written feedback forms after candidate interviews to help inform the district’s recommendation to the committee.

The committee also directed the appointed members and other panel participants to be sworn in at town hall before April 17 and asked the superintendent to provide the panel list to district staff for logistics. The meeting then recessed to executive session consistent with the statutory citation read aloud during the meeting.