THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2021 Page 3 ~ THE ADVOCATE ASKS ~ Superintendent’s Search Comm. Chair discusses special panel that will guide School Comm. in selecting next superintendent Editor’s Note: For this week’s column, we interviewed School Committee Vice-Chair Ryan Fisher, who was selected by his colleagues to chair the Superintendent’s Search Committee. Fisher, 40, is a lifetime Saugus resident who is completing his first twoyear term on the School Committee. He served one term as a Town Meeting member representing Precinct 9 before finishing as the second top vote getter among School Committee candidates in the 2019 town elections. He is a 1999 graduate of St. John’s Prep in Danvers. He received a bachelor’s degree in political science from Merrimack College in 2003 and a master’s degree in business administration from Salem State University in 2008. He is the program coordinator for the Massachusetts Sex Offender Registry Board. He and his wife Danielle – who is a pastry chef – have a fiveyear-old daughter, Ella. Highlights of this week’s interview follow. Q: I understand your late father has been a big inspiration for you? A: Yes. He was from Revere. He was a public school teacher at Revere High School for 18 years. He worked there, but moved to Saugus in the 1970s. Q: He was your inspiration for running for School Committee, or was Ella’s future? A: Both. He was never afraid to get involved and knew how to make a good argument. He was an English teacher for 18 years but was pretty good at the arguing thing so went to law school at night when I was a kid. I try to emulate him, often without realizing it. I got involved when not a lot of people were throwing their names into the hat. If I could complain about the need for new voices, I didn’t have an excuse. Q: It was about five years ago that the Saugus School Committee initiated an extensive search for a new School Superintendent. As chair of the current search committee, you have had a chance to do some research on how it was done. What did you like most about that search, and what elements do you think might be incorporated in the current one? A: One thing the last search committee did really well was they involved a professional, expert agent and really listened to their advice, and another was mitment. We’re going to have a number of meetings and interviews that we’ll be asking everyone to participate in to make the search fair for all the applicants. Q: What is the timetable for having the search committee assembled? A: We’d like to have the search committee set up before the ASKS | SEE PAGE 4 Top Rated by CARF International. Caregiver Support Solutions Do you need help caring for a loved one at home? Learn about our MassHealth program for adults with disabilities or chronic illnesses age 18 and older. • Financial Support. • Professional Support. • Dedicated Home Team. A SAUGUS FAMILY MAN: School Committee Vice-Chair Ryan Fisher, right, his wife Danielle, left, with their daughter Ella, 5, in front of the Oaklandvale Elementary School. Fisher says his daughter’s educational future – possibly in Saugus Public Schools – motivates him to find the best possible candidate to replace Superintendent Dr. David DeRuosi, Jr., when he retires June 30, at the end of the current school year. (Courtesy photo to The Saugus Advocate) they truly involved community and stakeholder feedback every step of the way. We want to keep this search aboveboard and transparent and include feedback from the entire community. The community is going to help craft a profile of the superintendent it wants, and that’s going to guide the entire selection process. The last search committee left us a great roadmap. Q: The search committee five years ago consisted of 23 members. What will be the size of the one this time? What will be the composition of the committee? What will be the methodology for selecting the committee? A: The full School Committee will be meeting on Thursday the 25th in public session to iron out the composition of the search committee, and then we’ll look for applicants willing to serve. We’ll meet again in the following week or two to approve the appointments. I’d imagine we’ll have fewer than 23 this time, and it may shift a bit if we have applicants who check a number of boxes. Q: If Saugus residents are interested in serving, what should they do? What will the committee be looking for in applicants? A: By the time this article is published, we’ll probably have just decided this and will be releasing information on social media and through the district, but those interested can reach out to myself or Dennis Gould and we’ll direct you. Our emails are up on the district website. What I can answer right now is we’ll be looking for a diverse group of members who are willing to make a temporary but firm time comGerry D’Ambrosio Attorney-at-Law Is Your Estate in Order? Do you have an update Will, Health Care Proxy or Power of Attorney? If Not, Please Call for a Free Consultation. 14 Proctor Avenue, Revere (781) 284-5657 Call for a free evaluation today. 978-281-2612 AdultFosterCareNS.com
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