Board approves superintendent candidate profile, delegates screening committee selection ahead of March 20 timeline

The Barre Unified Union School District #97 board approved a candidate profile used to guide the superintendent search and delegated authority to four board members to review and select the screening committee before the March 20 meeting from the search vendor’s timetable. The packet materials included a profile developed from a public survey and focus groups conducted for the search.

The board voted to approve the candidate profile as presented and to authorize Alice Farrell, Catherine Whelan, Garrett Grant and Giuliano Ceccinelli to review applications and select screening-committee members so the district can meet the vendor’s March 20 schedule. The board’s action responded to a timing constraint in the search vendor’s calendar: the screening committee must be assembled in advance of the planned first screening meeting.

Board members noted the profile will be used as a reference tool during recruitment and emphasized the process will include training and further review by the board. The superintendent and board agreed the delegated group will receive orientation for the task and will report back to the full board after selections are made.

The vote to delegate selection authority passed by voice vote; specific vote tallies were not recorded on the public transcript. The board asked the superintendent to help schedule the delegated group’s meeting and to provide brief training on the vendor’s timeline and expectations.

Next steps include convening the delegated board members to review screening-committee applications and reporting the selected screening committee at the board’s next public meeting so the wider process remains transparent to the community.