Whitehall still seeking superintendent

By Dan King

Finding a new superintendent of schools, even an interim appointee, is proving to be not a quick process in Whitehall.

Despite interviews with multiple candidates, the Whitehall Board of Education has yet to decide on a successor for outgoing superintendent Liz Legault.

Officials said that they have interviewed candidates and that they have a few in mind, but wouldn’t disclose any names or say when they anticipate announcing an appointee.

Members of the board met with Washington-Saratoga-Warren-Essex BOCES District CEO Jim Dexter last Monday to interview potential interim candidates for Legault, who will leave on May 7.

The superintendent’s office declined to comment on the search process last week, suggesting that a reporter contact Dexter about the matter. Dexter said the district had not yet made a decision.

“The board did interview some candidates,” Dexter said in an email. “I don’t have anything for you as of yet, but they are actively seeking an interim superintendent.”

Board members said at the March 16 board meeting that they would consider letting members of the public join a committee to interview the candidates.

Dexter was brought in by the board to assist in this search, he was also brought in to assist the district during the 2013 search for a superintendent, which ultimately led to the board hiring Legault.

Legault, will become superintendent of East Bridgewater Public Schools in Massachusetts, resigned early in March after less than two years in Whitehall.

School board president Virginia Rivette said last month that the board intended to seek an interim replacement before searching for a full-time superintendent. She said that interim superintendents are often retired superintendents, with experience running schools.

The specifics of Legault’s contract with East Bridgewater were not yet available. Her contract with Whitehall paid $120,000 a year.

The Whitehall school board’s next meeting is scheduled for April 20 at 6 p.m. in the high school’s LGI.