Pelham Schools Formalizes Schedule for Superintendent Search

• Editor's Note: The following is a news release that was sent earlier today by the Pelham Union Free School District. If you would like to post your news to Patch,  for detailed instructions.

The search for the replacement of Superintendent of Pelham Schools, Dr. Dennis Lauro, , is underway.

The Board of Education is working with Hazard, Young, Attea & Associates, the largest national executive search firm serving public schools, to find a replacement.  HYA senior Associates, John Chambers, former superintendent of Byram Hills and Bronxville Public School Districts, and Deborah S. Raizes, current chair of the Board of Trustees at Lesley University, a former teacher, and former President of the Scarsdale Board of Education, are leading the search for Pelham.

“The first task is to develop a leadership profile that clearly defines the qualifications we want in our new leader,” said School Board President, Lisa Kiernan.

 Focus groups with various school representatives and community groups are scheduled for August 30 and during September to gather input from the different constituencies. School administrators, teachers, support staff, students, and PTA Council members as well as representatives of community organizations will be included. All interested residents wanting to offer their perspective are invited to attend one of two open meetings on Sept. 27 at 9:15 am in Alumni Hall (located on the ground level of the high school, opposite the gym) and Oct. 4, 7:30 pm, also in Alumni Hall.

Said Kiernan:  “The Board will be spending a lot of time on this initial and crucial phase. We want to hear from all members of our community.”

In addition to the creation of a leadership profile report, Chambers and Raizes plan to announce the position in Education Week and other strategic educational journals in the fall and begin their own recruitment of potential candidates. All candidates are first screened by HYA, including checking personal and professional references. Once initial interviews are completed, HYA will present a select slate of candidates to the Board and then conduct a seminar designed to prepare the Board for candidate interviews.

Chambers and Raizes will be reporting to the Board during the fall at various Board of Education meetings.   

Former superintendent of schools, Charles T. Wilson, has agreed to serve as interim superintendent through June 30, when it is hoped that a new superintendent can assume office.  It was determined that a July 1 start date would result in a larger pool of responsible candidates for the job.