SOUTHWICK – A search committee to replace retiring Southwick-Tolland-Granville Regional High School Principal Pamela Hunter has narrowed its candidates to three finalists.
Superintendent John Barry told the School Committee last night the search committee received 44 applications for the position.
“We narrowed them down to eight semi-finalists and selected three finalists,” said Barry.
The School Coommittee will interview finalists William Metzger, current assistant principal at STGRHS, Nicole Smith, assistant principal at Minnechaug Regional High School, and Joseph Turmel, principal of Lee Middle and High School.
The public interviews are set for Tuesday, April 8 at 5 p.m. at the high school.
Barry said each candidate will be interviewed for approximately 30 minutes. A letter was sent to all three potential principals asking them to be prepared to share their plans for the transition of the school from a 9-12 school to a 7-12 school and how they would integrate with parents, students, and the community.
Barry began calling references this week and said he is “learning positive things about all the candidates.”
Committee member George LeBlanc served on the search committee and said it was not difficult to narrow the field of candidates.
“I was surprised it was that clean-cut,” he said. “We are fortunate to have a pretty strong and diverse field.”
Committee member Jean McGivney Burelle asked if the committee had the final decision.
“Actually, by statute, I do,” said Barry, “but I want to make you happy, too.”
Barry said it is his hope that following the interviews that he and the committee would come to a concensus and offer the position to a candidate that night.
Hunter has been the high school principal since 2007 and announced earlier this year her decision to retire as of June 30, 2014.
Hunter first joined the staff of STGRHS as an English teacher in 1995. She left in 2001 to become vice principal of South Hadley High School and returned when the principal position opened up in 2007.
