Schools superintendent search begins in earnest

The Board of Education has begun to seek a new superintendent in hopes of filling the position by December.

EAST HAMPTON >> The Board of Education has embarked upon its effort to find a new superintendent of schools.

Officials say they hope to fill the vacant position by December.

To that end, members have retained the services of an executive search firm affiliated with the Connecticut Association of Boards of Education.

The top position has been vacant since Superintendent Diane Dugas and the school board mutually agreed in June to end her employment with the town.

Dugas had been superintendent for two years.

In the interim, that position is being handled by Mark L. Winzler, a veteran superintendent. He also served as interim superintendent in the period before Dugas was hired.

The CABE search firm team is being headed by Mary Broderick, CABE’s search consultant.

In that position, Broderick has conducted “numerous executive searches in Connecticut,” according to a release issued Tuesday by the school board.

Broderick was a member of the East Lyme school board for 22 years, according to the statement.

As the process to fill the superintendent’s position begins, officials say their first priority is to seek input through focus groups and a survey.

The search committee, which also includes members of the Board of Education, “wants to learn about perceived strengths and challenges of the East Hampton Schools as well as leadership qualities desired in our next educational leader,” the statement said.

In order to engage “a broad range of constituents (to) provide input to the search process,” the committee will form focus groups.

Those groups will be made up of school staff, parents, elected officials, business and service club leaders and other community members.

“The selection of a superintendent of schools is one of the most important responsibilities of a school board and the East Hampton board values everyone’s input,” members wrote.

Information about the formation is expected to released by the school administration before the end of themonth. However, residents wishing to give their opinions about the search process may do so now by taking an online survey on the district website at www.easthamptonps.org.