Milton School Committee hears expedited interim-superintendent guidance from MASC

The Milton School Committee on Wednesday received guidance from the Massachusetts Association of School Committees on options for appointing an interim superintendent to lead Milton Public Schools beginning July 1.

MASC Executive Director Glenn Kuchar and Field Director Sean Costello told the committee interim searches are commonly expedited and often filled by retired superintendents who can return to work without forfeiting pension income if districts follow certain state waiver procedures. "Because it's an interim superintendency, most districts need to act expeditiously," said Glenn Kuchar, executive director, Massachusetts Association of School Committees. "Usually, they are retired superintendents."

Kuchar and Costello described a practical timeline: post the vacancy immediately, accept applications through an abbreviated window (Milton's deadline is March 31), screen applications, and interview candidates in public. "You may be getting some directly to you if you use SchoolSpring," Kuchar said, describing how applications will be collected and made available to the committee. He also explained that an interim superintendent holds the full legal authority of the office but typically serves under a shorter contract.

Kuchar outlined advantages and risks of retiree candidates and waiver processes. “Under certain circumstances, retirees can come back out of retirement and work in a district without forfeiting their pension income,” he said. He added that retirees often stabilize a district quickly because "everybody's on their best behavior during an interim superintendency." Costello, who has recently led searches as a former school committee chair, urged committee members to use MASC and school-superintendents' association networks to vet candidates and to draw on MASC’s question bank and interview materials.

Committee members emphasized the value of a Massachusetts-experienced candidate who can immediately navigate Chapter 70 funding rules, circuit-breaker special-education issues and Department of Elementary and Secondary Education regulations. One member said Milton’s priority for an interim is demonstrated Massachusetts superintendent experience because "we really need somebody who brings a demonstrated track record of confronting some of the challenges that we're facing here in Milton."

Kuchar said interim recruitment frequently yields several qualified applicants: "I would hope that there might be, I don't know, four or five candidates who you might want to consider seriously." He recommended allowing retirees and in-state candidates to apply, noting national applicants sometimes underestimate local regulatory complexity. The MASC representatives offered ongoing, no-fee technical assistance to the committee.

The committee did not take a formal vote on hiring strategy at the March 19 meeting but acknowledged an immediate need to publicize the interim vacancy, screen applicants quickly and follow public-meeting rules for interviews. Kuchar and Costello provided contact information and invited follow-up questions from committee members.

Next steps: the committee expects the posted interim vacancy to remain open through March 31; the school committee will convene public meetings to review applications and interview finalists, and may appoint an interim superintendent under a short-term contract before launching a broader permanent search later.