SWAMPSCOTT — The School Committee was joined by Massachusetts Association of School Committees Executive Director Glenn Koocher on Thursday night to discuss how the committee should conduct its search for Superintendent of Schools Pamela Angelakis’ successor. Earlier this month, Angelakis announced that she plans to retire from her position on June 30, 2025. The date aligns with her current contract with the district, which will expire at the conclusion of the next school year.
“You’re in the fortunate position of having your superintendent retire under the most honorable of circumstances,” Koocher said. “You have plenty of time to think about what you want to do.” According to Koocher, 40% of school committees that find themselves in this situation appoint a successor who had already been trained to fill the position, while the remaining 60% conduct internal and external search processes.
“You can appoint me right now as your superintendent, that’s how much discretion you have,” Koocher said. “There’s no requirement that you have a search.” Koocher suggested a public survey that he and his peers at MASC could distribute to residents at no cost that would ask open-ended questions related to the topic of the district’s superintendent.
He also alluded to public forums with an internal candidate being an option. Committee member Suzanne Wright said that if more than one internal candidate is being considered, a public forum might not be the best way t.