Public to hear candidates for superintendent April 28

John Howell and Matt Bower
Posted 4/2/15

The public will get to hear candidates for superintendent of Warwick Schools at a meeting of the Warwick School Committee tentatively planned for April 28 at Toll Gate High School.

Committee chair …

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Public to hear candidates for superintendent April 28

Posted

The public will get to hear candidates for superintendent of Warwick Schools at a meeting of the Warwick School Committee tentatively planned for April 28 at Toll Gate High School.

Committee chair Jennifer Ahearn said Tuesday the committee would ask the candidates to respond to questions gleaned from a survey hosted on the school department’s website.

Ahearn did not say how many candidates would be interviewed. She said the names would appear on the agenda for the meeting that would be posted at least 48 hours in advance.

Two local candidates are thought to be finalists for the position, current Superintendent Richard D’Agostino and William McCaffrey, director of the Warwick Area Career and Technical Center.

D’Agostino was named interim superintendent in September 2012 after Peter Horoschak was forced out of the post prior to completing his three-year contract. The committee later named D’Agostino, who was director of special education, to the job for one year without posting the position or interviewing candidates. Last year it posted the position. A total of 15 candidates applied for the job, a number that was cut to seven finalists who were interviewed by the committee. There has since been a second round of interviews that resulted in an undisclosed number of finalists.

In an effort to measure community concerns and aspirations, the committee launched an online survey.

Ahearn said there were 877 responses to the survey, with parents, students, teachers, principals, central administration, and community members all participating, and nearly 600 questions generated, which the committee will choose from to pose to candidates as part of an open forum as the next phase of the interview process.

“I was very pleased with the number of responses and questions,” she said. “The highest percentage of importance was placed on the superintendent ensuring adequate resources for all schools and the lowest percentage of importance was placed on the superintendent taking a political stance on state politics.”

Ahearn said a superintendent would be named within 60 days.

Comments

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  • sadforspeced

    It would be a shame, and the community and educational staff would be confused, frustrated and upset if D'Agostino continues to be considered.

    Friday, April 3, 2015 Report this

  • Ward5resident

    Breaking news - After reviewing all the facts, and interviewing candidates, the school committee has decided that this issue is too difficult and has hired an outside firm to research this further. Cost to tax payers is $250,000....results will be ready in October of 2016.

    Saturday, April 4, 2015 Report this

  • danfire

    Ward5 you are right on the mark.I hope the guy from Texas whom has been fired twice finds a job some where else or he may be our man the way this committee picks applicants. We know Dicky D is not. I hope they ask what he has done the past 3 year to improve Warwick Schools.

    Sunday, April 5, 2015 Report this