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Beverly School Committee approves slate of three superintendent finalists
Summary
At a committee-of-the-whole meeting April 2, the Beverly School Committee voted 6–0, with one member absent, to accept three finalists for superintendent and set interviews and in-district visits for mid-April.
The Beverly School Committee voted April 2 to accept a slate of three finalists for superintendent and to move forward with in-district days, interviews and a deliberation later in April.
The vote came at a special committee-of-the-whole meeting convened hybrid at Beverly Middle School and streamed by BevCam. The committee accepted the screening committee’s recommendation of three finalists — Dr. Peter Cushing, Dr. Jennifer Turner and Sean Gallagher — by roll call, 6 in favor, 1 absent (Kimberly Queloz). The motion was made by Dr. Jeffrey Silva and seconded by Dr. Kenan McKenzie DeFranza.
The screening committee met April 1 to finalize the slate and returned one additional candidate after reviewing the semi-final pool, the chair said. The committee’s motion instructs staff to proceed with in-district visits for each finalist and schedule school committee interviews and deliberations for April 16–17.
Dr. Peter Cushing is currently assistant superintendent of enrichment and innovation for Medford Public Schools and has prior experience as a high school principal and history teacher. Dr. Jennifer Turner is assistant superintendent of teaching and learning for Melrose Public Schools and has served as a middle school principal and special education teacher. Sean Gallagher is superintendent of Newburyport Public Schools, and previously served as Beverly High School principal; his résumé also lists prior superintendent and principal roles and coursework at the National Institute of School Leadership.
Alicia Mallon, the Massachusetts Association of School Committees field representative working with the district, will compile committee members’ interview questions and coordinate finalists’ schedules; the chair said Mallon will contact each finalist about potential in-district days on April 14, 15 or 16. The committee’s expectation, as stated at the meeting, is that community stakeholders will meet the candidates during daytime in-district activities while the school committee’s obligation to interview will take place later in the day. Committee members were reminded not to engage in outside discussions about candidates or post on social media during the process.
The chair also said the committee will reserve a special evening committee-of-the-whole to deliberate and vote, and that, if authorized that night, a negotiating subcommittee would begin work on a contract with the chosen candidate.
A brief motion to adjourn followed the acceptance of the slate and passed by roll call with the same attendance (6 yes, 1 absent). The committee chair noted the district will provide a community update and links to public opportunities to meet the finalists on the district website.
