July 10, 2021 by Carol Britton Meyer
The School Committee met briefly Friday night to appoint members of the screening committee that will assist with the search for an interim superintendent to temporarily replace Hingham Public Schools Supt. Paul Austin, who is resigning effective July 30.
The committee will meet again next Wednesday, July 14, at 6 p.m. during an in-person session in the School Department Conference Room at Town Hall to publicly accept Austin's resignation and to discuss next steps in the search for an interim superintendent.
There will not be Zoom capability, but for those who cannot attend in-person, the meeting will be broadcast live on the local cable television education channels -- Verizon, Channel 29 and Comcast, Channel 22.
School Committee Chair Kerry Ni during Friday's remote meeting that anyone with questions may call or stop by the School Department or email her at kni@hinghamschools.org.
The Screening Committee will consist of three School Committee Members (Jen Benham, Liza O'Reilly and Kerry Ni), along with representatives of the HPS staff who have volunteered to assist with the search. They are:
* John Ferris, representing Central Office
* Mary Eastwood, representing the HPS principals
* Katie Roberts, representing the department directors
* Heather Sullivan (Hingham Middle School), representing secondary teachers
* Wendy Rapson (Foster School), representing elementary teachers
The open superintendent position has been posted, and the application process closes July 13. Whoever is chosen to fill the interim position will be under a one-year contract.
Once the candidates are narrowed down, they will be interviewed in public session. School Committee deliberations will also take place in open session.
The full School Committee will decide who will ultimately fill the interim position.