Westport Public Schools Hires New Superintendent From Madison

WESTPORT, CT — In a letter to Madison families, Madison Public Schools superintendent Thomas Scarice announced he's leaving to head up Westport Public Schools.

"Without question, this has been the most difficult professional decision of my career,"Scarice said. "Serving as superintendent in Madison has been a great honor and the most rewarding eight years of my career. I feel a deep connection to the community, so much so that my wife Kerry and I decided to move our family and raise our kids here. I will miss the people and the work in our schools. But I intend to remain engaged in the community as a volunteer, as a father, and as a neighbor."

Westport Schools Superintendent Colleen Palmer retired in August 2019, and David Abbey has served as interim superintendent this year.

Scarice began the letter telling families that as the district closes in on its first month of "disruption and fear," Madison schools have "successfully launched our new norm, an online version of the educational program that we ordinarily deliver to our students in person." He said that what he's witnessed in the weeks since the COVID-19 pandemic emerged and shuttered schools, has been "the magnificent emergence of heroes among our first responders, among those in the medical field, and right here among our teachers, administrators and support staff."

Scarice said that he was not looking for another job but a month ago was "presented with an unsolicited professional opportunity." He said when a contacted him, he felt "it might be the right time to consider making a professional change" and verbally accepted.

Then, the coronavirus happened.

"I paused and asked that the entire process be deferred until April before I make a final decision given the emerging circumstances in our community and the world," he said adding he'd asked to have a start date delayed until July, "so that I can help lead our system back to a state of normalcy, whatever that might look like."

"I want to thank the entire staff of the Madison Public Schools for its excellent work. That work will continue well beyond my transition. I also want to thank our administrators and the support staff who provide unparalleled service to the system. Finally, I would like to thank our parents for the endless support over the years, while most of you have recently been conscripted into the unfamiliar role of teacher and have remarkably risen to the occasion," he said.

He said "deliberating on this decision has been a personal struggle for me over the past month," but accepted the job. He begins in July as superintendent for Westport Public Schools.

He said that over the next three months, he's committed to continuing "to demonstrate the same commitment to our students and families as I have over the past month, during this crisis. Yet, in time we will indeed return to a state of normalcy, and I will do everything within my power between now and June 30 to ensure that our schools are functioning at the highest possible level, whether remotely or back in session."

Scarice said: "In due time, we will in fact return to a state of normalcy. It might be a new normal, but before long, students and staff will populate our classrooms and hallways, and we will serve thousands of students, face to face, developing relationships that matter. This may take a couple of months, maybe a bit longer, but ultimately we will return to a normal state and the work of our team with your children will continue.

"Once we do return to a semblance of normalcy, I want to make you aware of a transition that will take place. Although the timing is less than ideal, and this is troubling to me, I am confident that each parent is assured of my personal commitment to our students, families and staff. It's that commitment, the same commitment that you've experienced over the past month of this crisis, that will remain firmly in place until we return to a state of normalcy as we close out the school year."

Most sincerely,
Tom Scarice

— By Ellyn Santiago, Patch Staff