Wareham School Committee launches superintendent search, schedules public forums and interviews

The Wareham School Committee on Sept. 18 formally began its search for a new superintendent, announcing a public engagement and interview timeline intended to produce finalists for the full committee to consider on Nov. 6.

Superintendent (unnamed) told the committee the district will form a 13-member search committee representing teachers, administrators, central office staff, students, community members and town officials and encouraged residents to apply by Oct. 1 with a one- to two-paragraph statement of interest. A community survey will run Sept. 27 through Oct. 7 and a pair of focus-group sessions are scheduled Sept. 29: a staff session from 2:30–4:30 p.m. and a public session from 5:30–7 p.m. at the high school library.

Joyce (committee member) and search organizers said the search committee’s first meeting is Oct. 8 (5 p.m., Central Office conference room) to review rules and process, Oct. 15 for application screening, Oct. 23 to select final candidates, and candidate interviews are tentatively scheduled for Oct. 28, 29 and 30. Finalists will be presented to the full school committee at the regular Nov. 6 meeting.

Committee members discussed logistical steps tied to finalists: an executive session is likely to be scheduled either the day before or the day of Nov. 6 to prepare negotiation strategy for nonunion personnel. The committee also discussed whether finalists should visit other districts as part of evaluation; organizers said the practice is optional and will be decided by the committee.

The superintendent and committee pledged to be transparent about survey and focus-group results and said they will publicize search-related dates on the district website, the school Facebook page and in Wareham Week. The committee noted the time commitment for search-committee members may be substantial (up to four hours for some interview nights) and asked applicants to review that expectation before applying.

Next steps: the district will accept search-committee applications through Oct. 1, run the community survey Sept. 27–Oct. 7, hold focus groups on Sept. 29 and convene the search committee on Oct. 8 to begin screening candidates. Finalists will be presented to the full committee Nov. 6; an executive session to prepare contract offers may occur Nov. 5 or Nov. 6.