To the Editor:

Do we have the best and most qualified person leading the Warwick Public Schools?

The answer is we don’t know.  I hope Warwick School Committee members stand by their word and begin the proper, established process of selecting a superintendent. The first step in this process is conducting a search for qualified candidates.

 The following are excerpts from the Warwick Beacon (2/21/13):

“School Committee Chairwoman Bethany Furtado said the superintendent position will be posted and a search will be conducted, starting either this fall or winter, but it was important to establish a permanent superintendent until that can be accomplished because the district is facing many important decisions.”

“With all the tasks ahead of the district, such as long-term facilities planning, teacher evaluations and budget formulation…this is the right move for the district at this time to have a permanent superintendent, Furtado said.”

“Furtado said in order to conduct a proper superintendent search; it would take the better part of seven months.”

“We need to advertise the position, make sure applicants have the proper certifications and build a search committee,” she said. “Last time we conducted a superintendent search, we started in October and public interviews were in June. We also need time to do site visits.”

Eugene Nadeau: “I believe every important position like this should be posted to give other school department personnel and others outside the district the chance to apply for it. It also lets the citizens and taxpayers know we’re up front and open about doing the right thing for the benefit of the children.”

“Jennifer Ahearn said she voted against D’Agostino’s appointment as superintendent because she wanted the school committee to initiate a search now to have more than one option, both internally and externally, for the position.”

Lisa Paul

Warwick