BMR school committee chooses superintendent
BLACKSTONE – The Blackstone-Millville Regional School Committee Wednesday unanimously voted to offer the job of school superintendent to Jason DeFalco, deputy superintendent of schools for the New Bedford Public School system.
DeFalco was one of three finalists interviewed by the committee this week and last. The two other candidates were Richard Drolet, director of curriculum, instruction, assessment and accountability for the Uxbridge Public School system, and Kevin McNamara, principal of Lincoln High School.
At the conclusion of McNamara’s interview on Wednesday, the committee deliberated and then agreed to negotiate an employment contract with DeFalco.
In a separate motion, the committee voted to enter into contract negotiations with its second choice, McNamara, if contract negotiations with DeFalco fall through.
The committee says it is prepared to offer a multi-year contract with a salary in the range of $150,000-
$165,000, commensurate with experience and qualifications, and a competitive benefits package.
“It was a hard choice,” noted School Committee Chairwoman Jane C. Reggio. “We are very lucky to have two candidates who we feel can lead our district.”
The committee said the gap between the two candidates was close, but that it chose DeFalco as its first choice because he had slightly more administrative
experience.
DeFalco holds a Doctorate of Education from Johnson and Wales University and was previously a lead teacher in Grades 3-5. Before becoming deputy superintendent in New Bedford, DeFalco was a middle school principal in Worcester, Somerville and Southbridge.
McNamara holds a Master’s of Education from Providence College and has experience as a high school English teacher. Before becoming principal at Lincoln High School, he was the director of athletics for Lin-
coln schools and an English teacher.
Drolet holds a Doctorate in Educational Leadership from Johnson and Wales University and has experience as both an elementary and middle school teacher. He was also principal of the McCloskey Middle School in Uxbridge and principal and assistant principal at the North Cumberland Middle School in Cumberland.
Each of the interviews was preceded by a full-day of meet and greets and school building tours that began in the morning. There were also special meet and greet with school department staff and visits to Blackstone and Millville town halls where the candidates were introduced to town leaders.
The three veteran educators were recommended by an 11-member preliminary screening committee that reviewed candidate applications and narrowed down the list of candidates for closeddoor interviews last month.
The screening committee forwarded the names of the three finalists to the School Committee on Jan. 25 and the school board made an official announcement last week.
The district conducted the search process in-house with technical assistance from the Massachusetts Association of School Committees.
School Supt. Allen W. Himmelberger, the Blackstone-Millville Regional School District’s school chief for the past four years, is retiring effective Sept. 1, 2018. The District School Committee is hoping to hire a new school chief by March 1.
The Screening Committee, which was dissolved last week, included Tammy Lemieux, Sarah E. Williams, Jane C. Reggio, Caryn Vernon, Carol Brown, William T. Walsh, Richard V. Crivello, Esther Cote, Julianne Wolford, Richard Stearman, and Bethany Dunton.