School Committee members say they hope to solidify a contract with Marinel McGrath, current superintendent of the Hamilton-Wenham regional school district, this week, bringing her to Andover July 1 to replace outgoing superintendent Claudia Bach.
Thursday night, March 4, the Andover School Committee voted to select McGrath, Andover's assistant superintendent from 1995 to 2002, concluding a three-month search process.
"I am thrilled to have been selected as the next superintendent," said McGrath, when reached by cell phone Thursday night, shortly after the School Committee's decision. "I'm looking forward to serve, once again, the students, families and community (of Andover). I'm very pleased it was a 5-0 vote."
McGrath did not return messages left over Monday and Tuesday this week, seeking further comment.
For fiscal year 2009, McGrath is making $175,676, according to Hamilton-Wenham human resources. The advertisement posting Bach's job listed a salary range of $180,000 to $200,000.
School Committee members lauded McGrath's budgeting experience and collaborative leadership style.
"She has a priority of building trust in the community, and a bigger-picture view. That was impressive to me," said School Committee member Dennis Forgue.
"Every year as (Hamilton-Wenham) superintendent, she's had to make (budget) reductions. Despite that, she's kept the vitality alive in the district. There's never been any money," said School Committee member Annie Gilbert. "She has a singular mix of all the qualities that make her the right person at the right time for Andover. She knows the district, but also has eight years of experience under her belt. She brings a fresh set of eyes, which I think we need."
McGrath was chosen from a pool of four finalists that included Susan Nicholson, current assistant superintendent in Andover; Kelly Clenchy, superintendent of a regional school district in Orono, Maine; and Christopher Farmer, superintendent of Gloucester schools. The vote came about 90 minutes after the committee completed its interview of McGrath, the last finalist interviewed.
School Committee members visited each finalist's home district, and the candidates spent a day last week visiting Andover schools; all four finalists fielded questions from residents in an open meet-and-greet session and the School Committee in a public interview.
Bach, Andover superintendent since 1998, announced in October her intention to step down. Her contract lasts through June 30, but the School Committee has given her permission to leave earlier, if she were to find another opportunity. When reached this week, Bach said she anticipates staying through June.
At Thursday's meeting, Gilbert, Silberstein, Forgue and David Birnbach all expressed preference for McGrath, while Dick Collins supported Susan Nicholson as his first choice. However, Collins said he believes it is important for the vote to hire a new superintendent to be unanimous, and he ultimately voted for McGrath.
"We've made a very good choice. I support the other members of the committee on this," said Collins after the vote was taken.
Clenchy and Farmer have been selected as the only two finalists for superintendent of the Triton Regional Schools. They are being interviewed today and tomorrow by the district, which is comprised of Newbury, Rowley and Salisbury. Nicholson, Andover's assistant superintendent, did not return a call before Townsman deadline, seeking comment on whether she expected to seek a superintendency elsewhere.
McGrath's legacy
Andover school staff and community leaders remember McGrath as a values-centered leader.
"She has an inclusive management style, and I always felt she was very respectful of all the stakeholders," said Tina Girdwood, who was on the School Committee when both Bach and McGrath were hired. "I think about Claudia (Bach) and Marinel (McGrath) and I don't see so many differences, but similarities that I like. They have very strong values, are clear thinkers and see the larger picture, which I think is important as a superintendent."
Tom Meyers, Andover High School teacher and president of the Andover teachers union, remembers working on a teacher evaluation model McGrath introduced, still in use today. McGrath hosted a summer work session on the model at her home, serving lunch, said Meyers.
At first the collaborative model was met with "considerable skepticism" from staff, said Meyers, but after the success of a pilot program, it was accepted district-wide.
"It was a major accomplishment, and I think we, as a community can be proud. It was very much part of her legacy, and demonstrates the positive skills she has, of getting in and really understanding the depth of an issue," said Meyers.
"I'm delighted she's coming on board. She's always been a bright person, and very well prepared, no matter what the topic is. She's a fair person, and I would use the word tenacious, in trying to stick with an issue and see it come to fruition, but also a consensus-builder," he said. "One of the most difficult issues she'll have to deal with is bridging the funding gap, and I look forward to dealing with her in that endeavor, given her talents."
At the March 4 meeting, School Committee members Annie Gilbert and David Birnbach praised McGrath's innovation in orchestrating a budget tied to two towns. She preserved two teaching positions after the high school principal retired, said Birnbach, by having a middle school principal become both middle and high school principal.
"She has had eight years experience as a superintendent dealing with very onerous budget challenges. With the challenges that Andover has, to me, that is a really important skill set criteria," said Birnbach. "She has very, very strong operational experience."
As Hamilton-Wenham superintendent, McGrath deals with two separate Finance Committees and Boards of selectmen as well as a nine-member School Committee.
Andover School Committee members said McGrath has been grooming a team of relatively young principals, including several first-time principals hired from classroom teaching. McGrath has fostered mentorship, goal-setting and support programs, which translates well to Andover, where a majority of the town's 10 principals have been hired within the last five years.
Selectman Mary Lyman was involved in school parent-teacher organizations while McGrath was assistant superintendent, and says she was "highly regarded" by teachers, parents and school staff.
"Marinel is a leader in education, has an extremely hard work ethic and she understands the community well," said Lyman, a former School Committee member. "She is strong in professional development and strong in curriculum. She sets high expectations. She can hit the ground running, and establish goals that are appropriate for our system, very quickly."
