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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1981-11-19-SC-min Page 64 November 19, 1981 A special meeting of the Lexington School Committee was held on Thursday, November 19, 1981, at 6:00 p.m. , in the School Administration Building Conference Room. Present were: Gaudet, Swanson, Beck, Shaw, Michelman, and Student Representative Splaine. Also present were: Dr. Lawson and Barnes. Mr. Michelman informed the School Committee that he had received COMMUNICATIONS a letter from Dr. Richard Goodman of the University of New Hampshire, outlining some of the possible services he might render as a consultant in the Superintendent Search. Mr. Michelman said that the School Com- mittee would include Dr. Goodman as a potential resource. Mr. Michelman informed the School Committee that he had received a letter from a citizen who wished to volunteer to be on the Screening Committee. It was agreed to add this citizen's correspondence to the other nominees and volunteers for consideration for membership on the Screening Committee. Mr. Michelman announced that a meeting would be held at 8:00 p.m. BROCHURE FOR on November 23 to review the draft of the brochure to be used in the SUPERINTENDENT recruiting of a new Superintendent and the advertisement which would SEARCH be placed in newspapers, magazines, etc. He announced that a regular meeting would take place Tuesday even- ing, November 24, at 8:00 p.m. Mr. Michelman introduced Dr. Jerome Murphy of the Harvard Graduate CONSULTANT School of Education, who appeared before the School Committee to review SERVICES his possible usefulness as a consultant in the search for a new Super- intendent. Dr. Murphy outlines his qualifications as a consultant by noting that he acted as the consultant for the Massachusetts State Board of Education in the recent search for a new Commissioner of Education. He also reviewed his participation in executive searches for the Federal Government, which included the White House Fellows' Program. He also was involved in faculty searches at the Harvard Graduate School of Edu- cation. At this point, Dr. Murphy responded to questions by each School Com- mittee member. Mrs. Gaudet asked Dr. Murphy to alleviate a concern that a consultant might recommend a particular candidate that the consultant advocated. Dr. Murphy stated that the selection of the candidate was not the job of the consultant. The consultant would assure that the technical aspects of the candidates were scrutinized carefully and then recommend a final group of top candidates for the School Committee to decide among as to which person would be best for the community. Mrs. Swanson asked Dr. Murphy to review his experiences in Superin- tendent Searches. Dr. Murphy replied that he had never participated in the search for a Superintendent; however, there were commonalities that existed in all searches that he felt would be applicable to a Superin- tendent Search. He added that he would be able to contact individuals in his sphere of information as well as spread into available networks , Page 65 November 19, 1981 both business and professional, in order to motivate search and evalu- ate candidates. Mrs. Shaw asked Dr. Murphy if he felt the time frame set by the School Committee was realistic. Dr. Murphy responded that he felt the schedule was extremely tight, but the ability to complete the job with- in the time frames would depend on the role of the Screening Committee. Dr. Beck asked Dr. Murphy to review possible costs connected with hiring him as the consultant. Dr. Murphy answered that $60 an hour was the rate, and the time required would depend upon the functions of the other groups. Dr. Murphy felt he should not handle the logistics, just the elements of reference checking, contacts via networks, motivation of candidates, etc. At this point, Mr. Michelman said he agreed that the Superinten- dent's Secretary would handle the logistics and that the consultant selected would be utilized in other areas of the process. Mr. Michelman thanked Dr. Murphy for his candidness and responses. Mr. Michelman said he would be in contact with him as to the decision of the Committee if they decided to use a consultant. Dr. Beck mentioned that he had been in contact with Dr. Harold OTHER CONSULTANTS Howe, former U.S. Commissioner of Education, now at Harvard University, who mentioned two names that he would recommend as potential consultants, Mr. Edward Meade of the Ford Foundation, and Dr. Aaron Fink, Superinten- dent of the Newton Public Schools. After additional discussion, it was agreed that Mr. Michelman would contact potential consultants and arrange for them to meet with the School Committee soon. It was VOTED: to convene in executive session at 7:11 p.m. to discuss matters pertaining to collective bargaining. (Yes, Gaudet; yes, Swanson; yes, Shaw; yes, Beck; yes, Michelman) The Chairman announced that the School Committee would not reconvene in public session. Respectfully submitted-, i Richard H. ,Barnes Recording' Secretary •/c