EAST PROVIDENCE — Following two official interview sessions, including one held publicly November 10, the East Providence School Committee appears to have settled on Kathryn Crowley as its choice to become the next superintendent.
The move, however, is still reliant on both sides coming to a contract agreement. It is believed the Committee is offering a term of three years. The salary being discussed is in the range of $150,000 or more. No vote on the move was taken in public session Tuesday, nor is one to believed to have been taken in an executive session that same evening.
Mrs. Crowley, currently the superintendent for the Little Compton district, was selected over Celeste Bowler, the other finalist to appear at the Tuesday night interview and who is the assistant superintendent for the Hamilton-Wenham regional district in northeastern Massachusetts.
Reached for comment Wednesday, Nov. 11, and Thursday, Nov. 12, members of the School Committee would neither confirm or deny a decision has been made.
Mrs. Crowley would take over for the retiring Kim Mercer, who announced her decision to step away this past summer after nearly three years on the job. Mrs. Mercer is scheduled to officially end her duties on December 30 of this year.
Currently a part-time employee in Little Compton, Mrs. Crowley is a former principal at Mt. Hope High School in Bristol and was an assistant superintendent for Johnston Schools, from which she retired in 2010. She is a Cranston resident. She is the niece of former Martin Junior High School principal Tony Saracino.
According to the government watchdog group Rhode Island Center for Freedom and Prosperity (http://riopengov.org/state-pensions/), Mrs. Crowley earns an annual retirement of approximately $87,000. Her salary as the part-time Little Compton superintendent is roughly $60,000. She will no longer be able to collect her pension while serving in a full-time position in East Providence.
Mrs. Crowley would join an administrative team in transition. City resident Dr. Sandra Forand was recently promoted to the position of assistant superintendent, replacing Julie Motta who resigned over the summer.
Eileen Crudele remains as Director of Pupil Personnel/Special Education, but her three-year contract expires in the spring. The contract of Director of Operations Diana Clarkin expired last month. She remains in the position at the same rate of pay in at-will capacity. Likewise, Tony Feola is serving as the interim Facilities Director and a decision in the status of that position needs to be determined. And there is a need to hire a new curriculum director to replace Dawn August, who resigned the post in October. The contract of administrative assistant Pat Ianelli was recently extended through the calendar year 2016.
The School Committee is expected to schedule a special session for Monday night, Nov. 16, in the East Providence High School auditorium where a vote to confirm its decision is likely to take place. The forum is scheduled for 6 p.m.
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