Marlborough School Committee approves subcommittee structure, sets timeline for superintendent search

The Marlborough School Committee unanimously approved a structure for a superintendent search subcommittee and a short charge to begin screening candidates at its Jan. 22 meeting.

Patty Brown, the district's director of human resources, presented a recommended process for the search, telling the committee she envisioned a subcommittee to pre-screen applicants, conduct interviews across several meetings, perform reference checks and bring finalists to the full committee. "I'm Patty Brown — I'm the director of Human Resources for Marlborough Public Schools," she said while outlining the steps and sample activities finalists might undertake, such as school visits and a combined staff and public forum.

Brown proposed an initial subcommittee composed of two school committee members, two staff members (one teacher and one administrator) and a parent representative; committee members later amended that structure to include three school committee members on the subcommittee. Brown said staff and parent representatives would be solicited via district communications and that applicants for those roles could email HR or use the district website.

Committee members asked procedural questions about the posting and screening process. The posting is open to internal and external candidates and was said to close Jan. 27; Brown said the subcommittee would develop screening criteria and interview questions. She also advised the group to expect background checks and said provisional licensure or out-of-state licensing pathways exist for some superintendent candidates.

After discussion about continuity and member availability, the committee used a random-draw method to identify three school committee members to serve on the subcommittee; the person conducting the draw announced the selected names. Members agreed that the full committee would see the subcommittee's screening questions where required by law and could pose public-session questions to finalists.

The committee amended and then approved the search structure on a motion that included the change to three school committee members. The motion carried on a voice vote.

Brown also handed out a short charge for the search subcommittee. A member moved to replace the phrase "successful candidates" in the draft charge with "qualified candidates." The committee approved the amended charge by voice vote; the charge reads in part: "The superintendent search committee is for the purpose of screening and interviewing candidates and delivering qualified candidates as a recommendation of finalists for the school committee's consideration."

Brown estimated the subcommittee's review and interview process would take about a month after the subcommittee is formed, but cautioned the timeline could vary depending on the number of qualified applicants and members' availability. The group agreed the next full school committee meeting, Jan. 28, would be used to report the number of applicants and to finalize scheduling.

The chair opened the meeting for public comment; there were no public speakers. The committee adjourned at 8:13 p.m.

What happens next: the committee will solicit staff and parent representatives, finalize the subcommittee membership, and the subcommittee will begin screening once applications are received. The committee directed HR to coordinate intake of interest and to provide dates and a more detailed timeline at the Jan. 28 meeting.