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The Sudbury School Committee is working with the Collins Center for Public Management at UMass Boston to conduct a Superintendent search, with a new Superintendent expected to begin serving July 1, 2027.
Two additional community feedback forums have been scheduled for Wednesday, November 18:
- 4:00 p.m. Virtual Session
- 5:00 p.m. In-Person Session at the Curtis Middle School Library
These additional sessions provide another opportunity for parents, caregivers, educators, staff, and community members to share their thoughts on the district’s strengths, challenges, and priorities for its next leader.
Reminder: The Superintendent Search Community Survey closes tonight, Friday, November 13, at 9:00 p.m.
As the search moves forward, here are answers to several questions about the process I’ve received this week. I thought I would share. if helpful to anyone else.
Q: Has Sudbury ever included its Town Manager on a Superintendent Screening Committee?
A: Yes. During the 2017-18 superintendent search that resulted in Brad Crozier’s appointment, then-Town Manager Melissa Rodrigues served on the 11-member Screening Committee.
Q: Was the 2017-18 superintendent search also facilitated by the Collins Center?
A: Yes. Sudbury previously worked with the Collins Center during the 2017-18 superintendent search. Fun fact, Collins Center representative Bill Lupini was involved in the 2017 search and returned to attend the November 2, 2026, School Committee meeting to discuss the current superintendent search.
Q: What does the Superintendent Screening Committee do?
A: The Screening Committee is responsible for reviewing applications, interviewing qualified candidates, and recommending a slate of candidates to the School Committee for further consideration. The Collins Center provides guidance and support throughout this process. The Screening Committee does not select or hire the next Superintendent. That responsibility rests with the School Committee, which conducts the final selection process and makes the appointment.
Q: Why does the Superintendent Screening Committee meet in executive session?
A: Candidate confidentiality is an important part of the preliminary screening process.
Massachusetts Open Meeting Law allows qualifying preliminary screening committees to meet in executive session when discussing applicants for employment, subject to specific legal requirements. This helps protect the identities of candidates who may currently hold leadership positions in other districts and may not wish to publicly disclose their interest before being selected as finalists. The process is designed to balance candidate confidentiality during initial screening with public transparency during the final selection process. Finalist interviews conducted by the School Committee take place publicly.
Q: Who was represented on the Superintendent Screening Committees in 2017 and 2026?
A: The 2017 Screening Committee had 11 members, including School Committee members, the Town Manager, central office administration, a school principal, faculty members, a SEPAC representative, and parent/community representatives. The 2026 Screening Committee has 16 members, including School Committee representatives, a Select Board representative, district administrators, educators, parent advisory council representatives, and community members.
Q: Why are the community forums asking the same four questions as the Superintendent Search Survey?
A: The Collins Center, which is facilitating the superintendent search, recommended using the same four questions across the survey and community forums to gather feedback on a consistent set of priorities. The survey provides an opportunity to submit written responses, while the forums allow participants to expand on their answers and share additional perspectives.
Both opportunities focus on four questions:
- What should be celebrated about Sudbury Public Schools?
- What are the top three challenges facing Sudbury Public Schools?
- What are the top three challenges facing the next Superintendent?
- What are the top three characteristics, experiences, or traits of the ideal Superintendent of Schools?
Even if you have already completed the survey, you are welcome to attend a forum. Led by the Collins Center, these sessions offer an opportunity to elaborate on your responses, share examples, and provide additional context to help inform the superintendent search process.
For more information about why the Collins Center uses this approach, we encourage you to watch the November 2 School Committee meeting, during which Collins Center representatives explained their methodology and how community feedback will inform the superintendent search process.
Q: How can I stay informed about the superintendent search?
A: You can follow the search through School Committee meetings and updates on the SPS Superintendent Search webpage. Sudbury School Committee meetings and Superintendent Screening Committee meetings held in open session are recorded and made available through SudburyTV.
I am a member of the Sudbury School Committee, but I am responding to these questions in my individual capacity. My responses do not represent the School Committee as a whole.