By Cate Lecuyer
BEVERLY — In a divided vote, the School Committee chose Assistant Superintendent Marie Galinski as the new leader of the Beverly Public Schools.
"I'm thrilled," Galinski said last night, after learning she will become the new superintendent when James Hayes retires in June.
Galinski was hired by Hayes six years ago and served as principal of a K-12 learning lab school in Worcester before coming to Beverly. She lives in Andover.
"I'm looking forward to the challenge," she said, "and I feel like it will be a smooth transition."
The vote for Galinski was 6-4, with Mayor Bill Scanlon abstaining after casting a previous vote in favor of the other candidate, Marc Kerble, assistant superintendent in the Winchester Public Schools.
After making the decision, the committee went into executive session to discuss a contract. Scanlon and Vice President Maria Decker emerged from the meeting and left earlier than the others.
The decision came after more than two hours of discussion, some of it heated, and much of it focused on the differences in leadership styles: "direct and authoritative" in Galinski's case and "relationship building" in Kerble's case, Ward 4 representative Karen Fogarty said.
"I'm very concerned about her ability to connect with people in the community," said Fogarty, who ultimately cast a vote in Galinski's favor.
After three of the five finalists dropped out of the search — which the School Committee had expedited due to competition — members said they felt rushed in the process, but agreed that the two remaining finalists seemed equally stacked in terms of experience and financial management.
"We have two candidates who I think in almost all the important places are largely similar," Fogarty said. "It's coming down to issues of personality and character."
Members repeatedly referred to the results of six community focus groups conducted during the search, where the public listed "inspirational leadership," "being visible in the city" and "building strong relationships" as important qualities for the next superintendent.
School Committee President Annemarie Cesa said she heard strong support from teachers, principals and administrators in the district who work with Galinski on a regular basis, and applauded her work on curriculum and MCAS scores.
"She's been more or less behind the scenes," said Ward 2 representative Paul Manzo, who pointed out that's the nature of the assistant superintendent's job. "But the administrators that know her know there's much more there than what we see. She's never served as a public figure, but they think she has it in her."
He also said her oversight of the budgets she manages is "impeccable."
Hayes applauded the School Committee's decision.
"Given the opportunity she will grow into that role quite nicely," he said.
Galinski, too, said after the meeting that she is ready.
"The role will be much more communications and relationship building with the community," she said. "I'm looking forward to working with all the constituents."
Decker, however, said Kerble has already demonstrated he is comfortable in the public light.
Administrators from Winchester described him as "bright," "sincere," and "a people person with great integrity," she said.
Scanlon agreed, saying, "They didn't know if they'd have to hire two or three people to replace this guy," and Fogarty said one person called him "a teacher whisperer."
"He apparently is able to get from teachers what they didn't even know they possessed," she said.
Fogarty also told members she felt the community was looking for a change, but she didn't agree with choosing an outside candidate just for that sake.
"I'm concerned if Dr. Galinski were the superintendent, she could walk on water and it wouldn't be good enough for our community," Fogarty said. She described the decision as "a leap of faith, no matter what way we go."
After the vote, Cesa said it was important that the committee had conducted a nationwide search before making its choice.
"This decision was not made seven months ago," she said. "It was made after a lot of hard work by a lot of people."
How they voted
Mayor Bill Scanlon: Abstained
President Annemarie Cesa, Ward 5: Yes
Vice President Maria Decker, Ward 6: No
David Manzi, Ward 1: No
Paul A. Manzo, Ward 2: Yes
Kris Silverstein, Ward 3: Yes
Karen Fogarty, Ward 4: Yes
