Members of the Manchester Essex School Committee interviewed the two remaining finalists last night with an eye toward naming the district's next superintendent — and decided instead to reopen the search.
Michael Cozort, superintendent of the two-town Shaker Regional School District in New Hampshire, and Thomas Gwin, principal at Winchester High School, took the hot seat to answer questions from the School Committee and later community residents under the open interview format,
The field of applicants, narrowed by a district-wide search committee from 25 to three finalists, had shrunk again the night before when Marc Kerble, assistant superintendent of the Winchester School District, was named to — and accepted — the superintendent's position for the Newburyport School District. All candidates had been vying in Manchester Essex to succeed current Superintendent of Schools Marcia O'Neil, who announced last year should be retiring in June, at the end of her third year and first contract.
After Friday night's interviews were finished, the School Committee deliberated over the two possible candidates.
"There was a lot of debate," said School Committee Chairwoman Susan Coviello.
But when the dust cleared, the committee decided to go ahead with a site visit to Cozort's district, which should take place some time this week — but not to immediately choose one of the two finalists.
"We have reopened the search for more candidates," Coviello said.
For more on this story, including comments made by the finalists during their interviews Friday night, look to Monday's print and online editions of the Gloucester Daily Times and gloucestertimes.com.
Brendan Connolly can be reached at 978-283-7000, x3447, or at gt_reporter@gloucestertimes.com.
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