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 ,
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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
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