Mansfield School Committee advances three superintendent finalists, sets public meet-and-greets and interview dates

The Mansfield School Committee voted unanimously to forward three finalists identified by its superintendent search advisory committee for public meet-and-greets and formal interviews.

The committee accepted the search advisory committee's recommendation to present Carolyn Lyons (current superintendent, Middleborough Public Schools), Elizabeth Legault (current superintendent, East Bridgewater), and Michelle McEwen (assistant superintendent, North Attleboro) as finalists, a move the chair said followed a review of 22 applications and in-depth screening of eight candidates. The roll-call vote passed 5-0.

The finalists will be the subject of a three-day, in-person public schedule of meet-and-greets and site visits Monday through Wednesday, with public sessions planned for 5:30 p.m. to 6:45 p.m. in the high school library, the committee said. The committee also scheduled its formal interviews for the finalists in the committee room on the following Saturday; the committee discussed starting the day at 8:15 a.m. and beginning interviews at 8:30 a.m. or 9 a.m., with the expectation of finishing by mid- to late afternoon.

The committee said a public announcement of the three finalists would be released the next morning via the district's PR contractor, with notices to parents, staff and high school students and posts on Facebook and the district website. The committee noted that applicant materials such as cover letters and resumes may be subject to permission and consultant or MASC (Massachusetts Association of School Committees) guidance before release.

In related business, the committee appointed two members to serve as the negotiating team for superintendent contract discussions once a finalist is selected. The committee moved to appoint two committee members (as named in the meeting record) to the negotiating team; that motion passed on a roll-call vote, 5-0.

Committee members outlined a process for preparing interview questions and logistics. They agreed to use a set of broad categories to structure questions — financial/operational; curriculum/instructional leadership; communication/community engagement; health and safety; and student learning/achievement — and to divide responsibility so each committee member would draft several questions in assigned areas. The committee plans a workshop the Tuesday before interviews to finalize wording, order and questioners and discussed allowing time for follow-up questions during interviews rather than a strictly scripted format.

The committee also discussed conducting reference checks during the week between the finalist announcement and deliberations. Consultants and district staff will clarify whether reference calls can begin immediately and whether reference results should be shared before Saturday's interviews or during deliberations. The committee favored conducting reference checks in pairs so at least two committee members could hear each call; the committee noted reference checking is distinct from background checks.

Votes at the meeting recorded two formal actions on the superintendent search: forwarding the three finalists to public announcement/interviews, and appointing a two-person negotiating team. Both motions passed unanimously. The meeting concluded with a motion to adjourn that also passed 5-0.

The committee emphasized the confidentiality of applications during the executive-session screening, saying interviews and deliberations adhered to legal requirements for search confidentiality. Committee members thanked the 13‑member search advisory committee and consultants for about four nights of interviews and deliberations that produced the three finalists.