By Lynne Hendricks
NEWBURYPORT — The School Committee will choose from two, rather than three, finalists for the position of school superintendent, after Dr. John Bayless asked that his name be withdrawn.
The retired California superintendent who had expressed a desire to head east and get back into the school setting bowed out of contention yesterday, citing difficulties with the long-distance application process.
"Essentially, he felt it was very, very difficult to determine whether there was a match between his skills and his interests with our needs, over such a great distance," said School Committee Vice Chairman Bruce Menin, who said the committee is disappointed with his decision.
"You're always disappointed that you lose somebody," Menin said. "Dr. Bayless was a very experienced candidate, and he looked pretty good. We are disappointed, but we also have two other candidates who have been part of the process who were brought forward by the screening committee. We're going to forge ahead with what we've got."
Menin said the committee intends to spend next week conducting site visits of the remaining two candidates' home districts, spending Tuesday in Winchester speaking with colleagues about the city's nine-year Assistant Superintendent Marc Kerble and spending Thursday in North Brookfield meeting with co-workers of Dr. Erin Nosek.
"We're still putting a team together," said Menin of the groups slated to make the trips next week. "There will be several School Committee members, possibly some staff and people who are interested from the community."
Menin said the School Committee will continue to take the time to compile information from community and school groups about the remaining two candidates. That information is giving the committee a good idea of how the public received them and helps them identify additional questions they can pose to the candidates to determine if they're a good fit for Newburyport.
"We've got really good feedback," Menin said. "Part of the reason for holding off the scheduled visits is it gives you a chance to look at the feedback and find out what people felt their strengths were, and to give a sense of what additional questions you can ask."
The new superintendent is expected to start around July 1.
