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Staff and community press board over closed superintendent search as meet-and-greet is announced
Summary
The board announced two finalists and a public meet-and-greet May 6, but staff leaders and educators criticized a closed search process and said the single public session won't provide adequate transparency or staff engagement.
The South Portland School Board announced two finalists for superintendent and scheduled a community meet-and-greet for May 6, but district staff and educators told the board the closed search process has undermined trust.
Vice Chair Smith announced the finalists and the May 6 meet-and-greet at South Portland Middle School; each candidate will have a 30-minute slot. "If you'd like to meet both candidates, please plan to spend the full hour," Smith said.
Multiple staff and teacher leaders told the board they were surprised and disappointed by the closed search process. "Given the level of concern around transparency in our district right now, this just feels like the wrong time to limit visibility and engagement," Sonia Croft, assistant director of instructional support, told the board during public comment. Croft said the single session next week is unlikely to allow meaningful educator or staff feedback about candidate fit.
Bethany Connolly, Skillen principal and president of the South Portland Administrators Association, also criticized the process, saying she first learned about the finalist update from city council coverage rather than district communications and that lack of inclusion for administrators, teachers and association leaders was a missed opportunity. "Not including any stakeholders, association leadership, teachers, support staff, parents, or community members on a search or screening committee was at best a missed opportunity and at worst shows a complete lack of regard for transparency," Connolly said.
Sarah Gay, president of the South Portland Teachers Association, echoed concerns and asked for more disclosure about why the board agreed to a closed process with the search firm Zeal. Board members acknowledged the optics and said the meet-and-greet was intended as an opportunity for the community to see finalists in person.
The board did not reverse the search process during the meeting but extended the opportunity for the public to meet finalists next week. Several board members said they would consider instituting clearer policies about future search committee inclusion and public engagement.
