After spending a few months reviewing candidates to take over for retiring Rochester Memorial School principal, Jay Ryan, Superintendent Doug White said that the Rochester School Committee is re-opening its search for a new principal.
“I wanted to thank the community members, staff, and parents for going through the first process. As we finished that, we [found] that the candidates who came had some good skill sets, but weren’t really what we’re looking for in our next principal and we wanted to go out and look at other candidates,” White said at Thursday night’s Rochester School Committee meeting.
He also mentioned that they have expanded the tools used in the search. Previously they had advertised in local newspapers and on the Rochester school district websites, but are now also using SchoolSpring.com, a website that advertises educational positions.
“Currently, we have 28 applications,” from the website, White said. The Committee is still aiming to appoint a new principal by June.
The Committee also discussed the new facilities management director search process. A group of faculty members from the Rochester schools convened to talk over the specifics of what they’d like to see in a suitable candidate. There are currently eight candidates on the short list.
“We’re hopeful this can happen quickly and we can move forward,” Superintendent White said.
The Rochester School Committee is also working to adjust the logistics pertaining to busing students to Bristol County Agricultural High School. They are looking to work with other communities and create a central bus stop to collect the Bristol students each day. They will be in contact with all the families of students affected before the changes officially occur.
The School Committee also voted to decline to take part in the School Choice program, which assists students from outside the region attend Rochester schools. Superintendent White said that they will take up discussion of rejoining School Choice in the fall.
The next meeting of the Rochester School Committee will be on June 7 at 6:30 pm at the Town Hall.
By Eric Tripoli
