Focus groups to aid in superintendent search

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The Naugatuck Board of Education will meet this week with focus groups as part of the search to replace former Superintendent of Schools John Tindall-Gibson (pictured). –FILE PHOTO
The Naugatuck Board of Education will meet this week with focus groups as part of the search to replace former Superintendent of Schools John Tindall-Gibson (pictured). –FILE PHOTO

NAUGATUCK — The Board of Education is organizing focus groups to gauge what kind of superintendent the community is seeking.

The board will seek input from residents, teachers, administrators and other school staff on the qualities they would like to see in the next superintendent of schools and identifying some of the problems that need to be addressed.

Board Chairman Dave Heller said Thursday the board and its superintendent search consultant will use information from the focus groups to develop a candidate profile. That profile will help the board determine which candidates become finalists, he said.

On Tuesday, the school board will meet with nonteaching certified school staff from 4 to 5:30 p.m.; parents from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m.; and the community at large from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Those meetings will be held at City Hill Middle School, 100 City Hill St.

On Wednesday, the focus groups will seek input from teachers, administrators and elected borough officials.

“We hope to get a lot of people to come out and give their input, and share their thoughts and opinions because we value them,” Heller said.

Anyone who cannot attend the meetings can add their input online, said James Connelly, interim superintendent.

Those interested can log on to the school system’s website, www.naugy.net, and search under the “district” tab for the title “superintendent search.” They will be directed to a questionnaire about what kind of superintendent qualities are seeking. Those must be submitted by Thursday.

The Board of Education is looking to replace former Superintendent of Schools John Tindall-Gibson, who abruptly announced he was retiring from the district in August. He retired the following month after seven years in the district.

Heller said he expects a new school chief will be hired before July 1, though he hopes to have someone on board sooner.