SCITUATE — School Committee members reviewed extensive community feedback during their May 4 meeting as they continue weighing whether to conduct a formal superintendent search or retain Interim Superintendent Dr. Thomas Raab.
The discussion followed a presentation from Patti Sinacole of First Beacon Group, the consulting firm hired to conduct a districtwide needs assessment. The process included focus groups and surveys involving teachers, administrators, parents, students, town officials and residents.
Committee Vice Chair Maria Fenwick said the district intentionally paused before beginning any formal search process.
“I hope that the question we're focusing on is what's a situate need in a superintendent?” Fenwick said. “We haven't even started a search yet, right?”
Sinacole told the committee several themes emerged consistently across stakeholder groups. Communication, visibility, collaboration and trust were among the most frequently cited qualities residents want in the district’s next leader.
“Communication is important, visibility is important, decisiveness is important, a kid-centric leader is important,” Sinacole said.
The consultant said many participants emphasized the importance of stability after years of leadership turnover. Others raised concerns about redistricting, budgeting pressures and maintaining student-centered decision-making.
“There is this need for stability within that leadership role,” Sinacole said.
Community members also stressed the importance of a superintendent who is accessible throughout the district, according to the presentation. Sinacole said stakeholders repeatedly referenced classroom visibility, transparency and the ability to explain decisions clearly, particularly during difficult situations.
One recurring concern involved whether the district planned to conduct a full search at all. Sinacole said some residents questioned whether the process was genuine because of the timing late in the school year.
“There was a little bit of skepticism,” Sinacole said. “Is this a real search because we're starting so late in the process or are we going to appoint the interim and is this sort of lip service to a search?”
Committee members discussed whether the community feedback and candidate profile could help guide their evaluation of Raab before deciding next steps.
Committee member Peter Gates said timing would become a significant factor in any decision.
“If we were to do a search, when does that search?” Gates said. “And does that just mean we had created an interim for another year?”
Fenwick said the district’s work with the consultant was intended to modernize an outdated superintendent job description and better define what the community expects from district leadership.
“We needed to pause and we needed to do those updates,” Fenwick said. “And in order to do those updates, the best, I think, thing we could have done is to ask a lot of people to contribute.”
Sinacole said the process produced unusually candid feedback and broad participation from across the district community.
“I think people were very comfortable and candid about the feedback,” she said, “but there's definitely some consistent threads across all stakeholders.”
The School Committee did not vote on whether to begin a formal search. Members said the consultant’s written candidate profile is expected later this week and will help guide future discussions.
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