By Cate Lecuyer
BEVERLY — With Beverly one of nearly 40 districts in the state trying to hire a new superintendent by the end of the school year, it has discovered that many cities and towns are competing for the best candidates.
The competition has become so fierce, in fact, that the School Committee sped up its process after learning that many of its top picks are also finalists in other districts. Now, they plan to choose a superintendent tomorrow.
"It's been this way for the past seven or eight years," said Tom Scott, executive director of the Massachusetts Association of School Superintendents. "This has become an issue because there's fewer people that want to become superintendents of schools."
The demands of the job — a high-profile position, accountability, performance expectations and state mandates unsupported by funding — mean fewer people are willing to take on the role, Scott said.
And since most of the vacancies this year are due to retirements, districts are seeking the same few qualified candidates — meaning superintendents have the ability to pick and choose.
"Sometimes it drives salaries up," Scott said. "Sometimes it forces the school committee to rethink what it's looking for."
"Is there competition?" asked Maria Decker, vice president of the Beverly School Committee. "Yeah. But we need to find the right person for Beverly, and we'll do what it takes."
On the North Shore, in addition to the open position in Beverly, Hamilton-Wenham Superintendent Marinel McGrath was named a finalist in Andover, and Ipswich Superintendent Rick Korb is one of three finalists for a similar position in the Masconomet Regional School District.
Although Beverly was smart to speed up the process, the city can still afford to be picky, said Glenn Koocher, executive director of the Massachusetts Association of School Committees. The nonprofit represents local boards and often provides consulting services for searches.
"Beverly is one of the good places," Koocher said. "It's well-situated geographically, it's in good financial shape, the superintendent is retiring under honorable circumstances, and the mayor is engaged. It would be viewed as a highly desirable superintendency."
The School Committee plans to offer a multiyear contract with competitive benefits and a salary range of $140,000 to $165,000 a year, Decker said. Hayes will make $164,000 this year.
Beverly received 29 applications and narrowed it to 10 candidates before choosing the finalists, and that's pretty standard, Koocher said. However, 15 years ago, it wouldn't have been uncommon to see a turnover of about 20 positions a year and to receive 100 applications for an opening.
"It's the aging of the baby boomers who are approaching retirement," Koocher said of the high turnover rate.
"They reach the age where their pensions have maxed out, and they'll retire and go to another state and another job, or they'll actually retire. It's perfectly legal and totally appropriate."
Superintendent James Hayes, 61, plans to retire in June and will stay at his home in Hampstead, N.H. He said he doesn't know what he wants to do next.
Some districts will end up choosing an interim superintendent, Koocher said, and others will promote from within.
"In some cases, a district will want to do a search to show the community they'll do their due diligence," he said. Often, it's to see how an internal candidate stacks up to outside potential, he said.
Beverly Assistant Superintendent Marie Galinski is one of the candidates seeking the local job.
Two of the other finalists here — Wayne Woolridge, co-superintendent of School Administrative Unit 29 in New Hampshire, and John O'Connor, superintendent in Dover, N.H. — are also top choices in other districts.
Staff writer Cate Lecuyer can be reached at clecuyer@salem news.com.
