WEST NEWBURY — Visionary leadership and a renewed atmosphere of trust and relationship building are what the Pentucket Regional School Committee hopes Jeffrey Mulqueen will bring with him when he takes over the helm of the school district in July.
Mulqueen, who currently works as chief academic officer for the Worcester public school system, was selected Tuesday night to replace retiring Superintendent Paul Livingston. Other finalists included Brooke Clenchy of Winchendon, Justin Bartholomew of Pittsboro, N.C., and Richard Langlois of Saugus.
And further changes in district leadership may be on the horizon, according to Michael Gilbert, the consultant from the Massachusetts Association of School Committees who assisted with the selection process.
Gilbert reported yesterday that Framingham school board has selected Pentucket Assistant Superintendent William Hart as a finalist for superintendent there. Hart, who had initially indicated his interest in applying for Pentucket's top spot, withdrew his name from consideration early in the selection process.
When reached yesterday, Hart said he was "extremely pleased with the School Committee's choice for superintendent. Jeff is bright, thoughtful, articulate and hard-working. He is a wonderful match for the district."
In a straw poll taken prior to the final vote, Clenchy received 4 votes, Mulqueen 3, Bartholomew 2, and Langlois, 0. The final tally was split, 5 to 4, with Jayne Broz, Joe D'Amore, Brian Page, Todd Treado and Chris Wile voting for Mulqueen; and Jill Eichhorst, Rich Perotti, Chris Reading and Jack Willett voting for Clenchy.
Following the vote, Reading asked for and received a consensus vote to work with and support the new superintendent. The committee then formed a subcommittee to start the contract negotiation process next week. The salary range is $155,000 to $170,000, with benefits negotiable.
The deliberations began at 8:45 p.m. following the committee's final candidate interview with Clenchy. Board members said they were looking for an individual with integrity and trustworthiness who could bring Pentucket to the "next level" educationally.
Perotti made the pitch for Clenchy, saying she had a strong track record of building positive relationships — something he felt was a key element missing from Pentucket's current leadership. Eichhorst said Clenchy had a way of making people feel valued and noted that she hailed a district very similar to Pentucket.
"She'll be able to walk into a town hall and understand the experience of people who work in those buildings," Perotti agreed.
D'Amore also spoke in favor of Clenchy, saying "more people will follow Brooke, and that's what we need." But in the end, he joined with the others who cast their vote for Mulqueen.
Wile, who led the search subcommittee, said the respect he observed while visiting Mulqueen in Worcester was "stunning." He has strong budgeting experience, was highly visible and easily accessible to all in the Worcester community, and received high marks for his conflict resolution skills, Wile said.
Although the board agreed all four candidates were strong, Wile said Mulqueen had the visionary leadership he was looking for.
"He's one of the most impressive people I've ever met," he said.
Before going to Worcester in 2009, Mulqueen was the assistant superintendent for the New Britain School District in Connecticut. He earned a bachelor's degree in biology from St. Anslem College in New Hampshire in 1979 and a master's degree in education in school supervision and administration from Notre Dame College, also in New Hampshire, in 1988. He also has a Master of Science in total quality from Anna Maria College in Florida and a doctorate in education in educational leadership from NOVA Southwestern University in Florida.
During his interview last week, Mulqueen told the school board that Pentucket was the only district he would consider leaving Worcester for at this time.
NJ Man Charged With Murder in Death of Patz
Support, Fun for Kids of Fallen Soldiers at Camp
Fugitive Penguin Caught, Returned to Aquarium
50 Years Later, Underground Fire Still Burning
Light Show Transforms Sydney Opera House
Raw Video: Unruly Passenger Restrained in Miami
Raw Video: Robber Uses Drive-thru Window
Raw Video: Dragon Arrives at Space Station
Calif.'s Coronado Named Nation's Best Beach
CEO Salaries Become Sore Issue in Labor Disputes
Raw Video: Fight Erupts in Ukrainian Parliament
Texan Ranchers Remain Wary of Drought
Raw Video: Soldiers Plant Flags at Arlington
Police: Man Arrested in Etan Patz Disappearance
NYC Protests: the Revolution Will Be Scripted
Chicago U.S. Attorney Fitzgerald Resigns
Neighbors of Etan Patz's Suspect: It's Shocking
Gulf Fishermen Reel From Seafood Troubles
Stuntman Makes Skydive Without Parachute in UK
Raw Video: Bride Who Faked Cancer Released
