Beverly School Committee votes to begin external superintendent search, hires MASC for full service

Rachel Abel, president of the Beverly Public Schools School Committee, opened a special Committee of the Whole meeting on Jan. 29 by saying the committee would decide how to conduct a superintendent search after receiving a letter indicating the current superintendent intends to retire before the Jan. 30, 2025 contract deadline.

The committee voted 6–0 to begin an external search that permits internal candidates to apply and be given the same consideration as outside applicants. Rachel Abel said the meeting’s objectives were to decide the search scope, consider contracted search services and advertising, and form a screening or search committee.

The committee then moved to engage the Massachusetts Association of School Committees (MASC) for full‑service search support. Emma Puglisi, the district’s director of finance, reported there are about $13,000 remaining in the district’s “reserved for negotiations” account that could be used toward a consultant; Puglisi also said other school‑committee line items could cover additional costs. MASC provided a contract price quoted at $11,500 plus reasonable expenses. The motion to have the chair engage MASC’s full‑service package passed by roll call, with five members voting yes and one abstention. Lorenda Biznick said she would abstain because of her current role with UMass.

Committee members discussed alternatives: the Collins Center at UMass Boston previously supported Beverly’s last external search but currently lacks the same staffing to provide an identical scope; NESDEC was mentioned but the district is not a current member and would need to reinstate membership to obtain a quote. Members also described a “self‑service” option in which district leaders could run the search using existing templates.

To collect applications for the screening/selection committee, the committee instructed Executive Secretary Donna Bergeron to work with the district IT department to set up a dedicated email and Google form. The committee set an application deadline of end of business on Feb. 10. The motion to create the portal and deadline passed 6–0.

Abel said she would contact MASC immediately to confirm availability and timelines so the committee could finalize an advertising schedule and screening‑committee appointments. The committee discussed using a stakeholder survey (to be drafted with the consultant) and noted their regular school committee meeting is scheduled for Feb. 12, when further steps will be considered.

Before ad placements could proceed, one motion to authorize the chair to allow MASC to start advertising was withdrawn while the committee waited for consultant input about timing and the stakeholder survey.

At the end of the meeting the school committee voted 6–0 to enter executive session under Massachusetts General Laws chapter 30A, section 21(a)(3), to discuss collective bargaining strategy with units A, B and C and individual contracts and not to return to open session.

Votes at a glance

- Motion to commence an external search for superintendent (internal candidates allowed to apply with equal consideration): Passed, 6–0 (Mayor Cahill — yes; Kenan McKenzie de Franza — yes; Karen Robinson — yes; Jeffrey Silva — yes; Lorenda Biznick — yes; Rachel Abel — yes). (Mover: Karen Robinson; seconder: Kenan McKenzie de Franza.)

- Motion to engage the Massachusetts Association of School Committees (MASC) for full‑service search support at $11,500 plus expenses: Passed by voice/roll call, 5 yes, 1 abstain (yes: Mayor Cahill; Kenan McKenzie de Franza; Karen Robinson; Jeffrey Silva; Rachel Abel. Abstain: Lorenda Biznick). (Mover: Rachel Abel; second: not specified in record.)

- Motion to instruct the executive secretary to work with IT to set up a dedicated email/Google form for letters of interest for screening/search‑committee participants, deadline end of business Feb. 10: Passed, 6–0 (mover: Mayor Cahill; second: Jeffrey Silva).

- Motion to enter executive session under M.G.L. c. 30A, §21(a)(3) to discuss collective bargaining strategy and not return to open session: Passed by roll call, 6–0. (Mover: Rachel Abel; seconder: Lorinda Visnick.)

Clarifying details and timeline

- The committee said it received a letter in advance of a Jan. 30, 2025 contractual deadline indicating the superintendent intends to retire; that letter prompted the expedited special meeting.

- MASC quoted $11,500 for a full‑service search plus reasonable expenses; the district has roughly $13,000 in a reserved account available to apply toward consultant costs, and additional school‑committee line items could be used.

- The committee set a deadline of end of business Feb. 10 for screening‑committee applicants via a dedicated district form; the next regular school committee meeting is Feb. 12.

- The Collins Center at UMass Boston previously provided search services but told the district it could not guarantee the same staffing or scope without further discussion; NESDEC did not provide a quote and the district is not a current member.

Who spoke

The record of speakers who participated in the search discussion is listed below (roles reflect how speakers identified themselves in the meeting):

- Rachel Abel — President/Chair, Beverly Public Schools School Committee (moved and led several motions and general discussion). - Mayor Michael Cahill — Mayor of Beverly (committee member). - Kenan McKenzie de Franza — School Committee member (seconded the external search motion). - Karen Robinson — School Committee member (moved the motion to begin the external search). - Jeffrey Silva — School Committee member (seconded the portal motion). - Lorenda Biznick — School Committee member (noted potential conflict with UMass and abstained on the MASC contract vote). - Emma Puglisi — Director of Finance, Beverly Public Schools (reported available funds). - Donna Bergeron — Executive Secretary/Confidential Secretary, School Committee (tasked with coordinating application portal). - Erin Brown — Executive Director/Director of Operations (staff participant on procedural questions). - Dr. Dorothy Flaherty — Assistant Superintendent (joined remotely). - Dr. Andre Morgan — Director of Belonging and Opportunity, Access, Equity (joined remotely). - Mark Thomas — Principal (present). - Bethany Splansky — Director of Pupil Personnel Services (present). - Liz Curran — Recording secretary (referenced in discussion of minutes and recordkeeping).

Discussion vs. decisions

Discussion items included the scope choices for a search (internal, regional, national or global), whether to hire a consultant or run a self‑service process, possible screening‑committee makeup (limits on school‑committee members due to open‑meeting/quorum rules), use of stakeholder surveys/focus groups, and advertising strategies. Decisions made: commence an external search, instruct the chair to engage MASC’s full‑service contract (11,500 plus expenses), create a dedicated portal for screening‑committee interest with a Feb. 10 deadline, and enter executive session for collective bargaining discussions.

Ending

Abel said she would contact MASC promptly to confirm consultant availability and a timeline so the committee can finalize screening‑committee appointments and advertising. The committee’s next regular meeting is Feb. 12, when members expect to consider follow‑up items from the search process.