School Board Seeks Community Input on Superintendent Search

The Board of Education plans to hold a series of focus groups over the next month to give the community the opportunity to sound off on the qualities it wants to see in the next Manchester Superintendent of Schools. 

to accept the same position in Waterbury, and as well. But the Board of Education is taking steps to find a permanent replacement for Ouellette, including hiring CABE Search Services, a Connecticut-based educational recruitment firm, as a consultancy firm to assist in the superintendent search. 

“Our Board is dedicated to seeking community input from a wide range of constituents so that we understand our strengths and challenges as well as the key characteristics and leadership qualities desired in our next educational leader," said Board of Education Chairman Chris Pattacini in a statement. 

The school board also plans to hold a series of focus groups starting in mid-January and into early February to allow various members of the community, including school staff, parents, students, elected and appointed officials, and town and business leaders, to sound off on the qualities they would like to see in the next superintendent. 

“The Manchester Board of Education is committed to an open search that allows Manchester to select a candidate that is the best educational leader who will successfully move Manchester Public Schools forward," Pattacini said. 

Announcement of the dates and locations of the focus groups will be placed on the district website at boe.townofmanchester.org.

Those who cannot attend a focus group are encouraged to complete a paper survey form at the town libraries and Town Hall or an online survey form on the district website starting in mid-January. Completed forms may be returned to the drop boxes at the aforementioned locations or they can be mailed to CABE Search Services, P.O. Box 290252, Wethersfield, CT 06129. Completed forms must be received on or before February 3, 2012.