Richards Meets Belmont Residents As Principal Finalist

Last night, Principal Dan Richards as one of the two finalists for the Belmont High School principal job.

About 40 people came to Belmont High School's auditorium to listen to and fire questions at Richards and Purnima Vadhera, the interim principal of the Arthur D. Healey School in Somerville,

Both are candidates to succeed Dr. Michael Harvey, the current principal who was named superintendent of the Hamilton-Wenham Regional School District and worked closely with Richards, who was Belmont High School's assistant principal of instruction for six years before coming to Melrose.

The candidates met with the high school faculty and were interviewed by Superintendent Dr. Thomas Kingston earlier in the day Tuesday. A final decision will be made by Kingston on Thursday, June 14, sometime around noon.

Richards said last night that his quick move back to Belmont may have residents think that he'll be off and running to a superintendent's position soon.

But given the opportunity to come back to Belmont, "I will work to be the best principal in the state and make this the best school in the state and nation."

He said that Belmont High's greatest asset is its "talented" faculty which is ready for the next level. "We need to tap into that pool to meet the challenges we face."

Richards also said he's most proud of his time in Belmont identifying teachers who had leadership qualities and directing them into administrative positions and heading departments.

Melrose Patch editor Daniel DeMaina edited this report based on a Belmont Patch article.