BMR school board negotiating contract with superintendent

BLACKSTONE – The Blackstone-Millville Regional School District has entered contract negotiations with Jason DeFalco for the position of district superintendent.

School Committee Chairwoman and Millville representative Jane C. Reggio said that over the coming weeks, the district will work to negotiate a three-year employment contract with DeFalco. If negotiations are successful, an official announcement could be made as early as the committee’s meeting March 8.

If the contract is approved by the regional School Committee, DeFalco would tentatively take over on July 1.

“The School Committee made the decision to enter into contract negotiations with Dr. DeFalco and he has agreed to enter into negotiations with us and that’s exactly what we’re doing. The lawyers are talking to the lawyers,” Reggio told members of the Millville Board of Selectmen last week.

“We’re excited and hopeful and hope to make an announcement soon,” she said.

If negotiations with DeFalco are not successful, the district will offer the job to

Kevin McNamara, who was the school board’s second topranked finalist.

DeFalco, deputy superintendent of schools for the New Bedford Public School system, and McNamara, principal of Lincoln High School, were two of three finalists interviewed by the School Committee earlier this month. The third finalist was Richard Drolet, director of curriculum, instruction, assessment and accountability for the Uxbridge Public School system.

At the conclusion of McNamara’s interview on Feb. 13, the School Committee deliberated and agreed to negotiate an employment contract with DeFalco. In a separate motion, the committee voted to enter into contract negotiations with 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.

The committee said the gap between DeFalco and McNamara 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 Lincoln schools and an English teacher.