School Superintendent Finalists Named

And then there were three.

The Superintendent Screening and Search committees have worked quickly to whittle down the resumes received and have selected the finalists for the Malden School Superintendent position, according to Search Committee member Debbie Burke.

The search has come down to three finalists:

• David DeRousi, Assistant Superintendent, Revere Public Schools
• Robert McCarthy, Beebe School counselor, Malden Public Schools
• Chris Scott, Superintendent, Lowell Public Schools

The School Committee will interview all three finalists in a public meeting before a candidate is announced.

Scott and DeRousi have both been finalists in other school superintendent searches across the country. Scott is a current finalist for the Cleveland, OH, superintendent position, according to the Cleveland Plain Dealer. Cleveland is expected to name its choice for new superintendent by June 1, just three days after Malden plans to make its own announcement.

DeRousi was a finalist for the Marlboro superintendent job last year, according to the Metrowest Daily News and other news outlets. Before working as an assistant to long-time Revere Superintendent Paul Dakin, DeRousi was principal at Revere High School.

McCarthy is a long-time veteran of the Malden school system and currently works as counselor at the Beebe School. He's also served as Director of Career Development, Business and Entrepreneurship, according to the school system’s website. As an internal candidate, McCarthy will get an interview with the full School Committee without recommendation either way from the Search Committee.

The search was structured that way after some School Committee members said they wanted Malden Public Schools employees given a chance to earn the top job.

Current Superintendent Sidney Smith announced his retirement earlier this year. The city is slated to start the new fiscal year on July 1 with no superintendent in place unless one of the three named finalists is offered and accepts the position.