Five Candidates Compete for Top School Post

By IAN FEIN

Longtime Island educator Margaret (Marge) Harris, one of nine semi-finalists who interviewed for the permanent superintendent of Vineyard schools last week, learned Monday that she was no longer in the running.

"I'm very, very saddened by it," said Mrs. Harris, the Vineyard schools assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction. She also taught social studies at the regional high school for more than 25 years. "I really feel that I was the best candidate for the job."

The superintendent search committee selected five finalists for the post last Saturday, but refused to release the names until the all-Island school committee meets this coming Tuesday.

Search committee chairman Lawrence Binney said the five finalists were far and above any criteria set by the school board, and the selection was a clear decision.

"Those who didn't make the cut need to know that they were up against some pretty tough timber," said Mr. Binney, also the principal of the Oak Bluffs School. "We're lucky as an Island to have attracted such good candidates. I think the community's going to really like whomever the school committee chooses."

School board members will soon schedule interviews with the remaining finalists. They hope to have the permanent superintendent - who will take over from interim G. Paul Dulac on July 1 - named sometime in March.

Mrs. Harris, meanwhile, will fly to Nantucket this afternoon and interview as a semi-finalist for the superintendent position there.

"Talk about your head spinning," said Mrs. Harris, who is also still a candidate for the superintendency in Mashpee. "[Martha's Vineyard] is my heart; this is my home; and this is the community I want to give back to. But I think being a superintendent is the next step in the natural progression of my career," she added.

"I have all the skills and education, and it is a good time in my life to try to do this," Mrs. Harris said. "If these other jobs don't pan out, I love my job here. And of course I will welcome and support whoever is brought in."

Former Chilmark principal Carlos Colley was also a semi-finalist for the Vineyard superintendent post, but like Mrs. Harris did not make the most recent cut. Mr. Colley, who is currently working as a principal in upstate New York, left his Chilmark position last summer over a contract dispute with then-superintendent Kriner Cash.

"Carlos dearly wanted to come back to the Island and work here," said Mr. Binney, who brought Mr. Colley to the Vineyard nine years ago when he hired him as an assistant. "And I know that both he and Marge will make some district very, very proud," he added.

"I think that any time you go through interviewing local candidates there is a degree of homegrown advantage, and you want to recognize that," Mr. Binney said. "But the downside is if they're not selected you stand to lose them, which is an unfortunate but natural byproduct of the whole process."

Mr. Binney noted that although no Island candidates made the list of finalists, all five are from New England. He said that they are all familiar with the Vineyard, and more than one candidate may actually own property on the Island.

"They all did their homework," Mr. Binney said. "They seemed to know where we stand as far as culture, MCAS scores and budget issues. They know we're a complex community, and the challenges that are here."

Mr. Dulac, who has proven quite popular through the first month of his interim tenure, interviewed in Somerville this week as one of three finalists for the superintendent post there. Mr. Dulac did not apply for the permanent Vineyard position.