School Board Picks Mainland Educator for Interim Position

By IAN FEIN

The All-Island School Committee unanimously selected Dr. Paul Dulac,
a former school superintendent from Newburyport, as the next interim
superintendent of Vineyard schools yesterday afternoon.

"I listened to this guy thinking, ‘You've got to
be kidding me; I'm living a dream,' " said school
board member David Rossi, who chaired the interviews with the three
finalists for the position. "This guy impressed the hell out of
me. He seemed very comfortable in this role, and is obviously a great
communicator. I hope he's going to come on board."

As of 7 p.m. last night the school board had not reached Mr. Dulac,
who returned to his home in Windsor, Vt., following yesterday's
trip to the Vineyard.

If Mr. Dulac declines to take the job, the committee will offer the
position to its second choice - Dr. Margaret (Marge) Harris, the
Vineyard schools assistant superintendent for curriculum and
instruction.

School committee members praised Mrs. Harris and suggested she might
still be a top candidate for the permanent superintendent position, but
called the interim period a good opportunity to learn from someone
outside of the Island school system.

In particular, board members praised Mr. Dulac's lengthy
leadership experience both in New England and abroad, where he was
superintendent of an international school in Beijing, China.

"We're always talking about professional development and
wanting to rub elbows with people doing other things, and [Mr.
Dulac's] experience is exceptional," said school committee
member Susan Parker of Chilmark. "This is a golden opportunity to
bring someone in for a few months who can roll up their sleeves and give
us what they have," she said.

"It's always difficult to choose between a strong
on-Island candidate and one from further away, but sometimes the fact
that they are from somewhere else is desirable," said school board
member Kathy Logue of West Tisbury. "They can give us a
perspective of someone who has not been here all along."

The best known of the three final candidates, Mrs. Harris taught
social studies at the Vineyard high school for more than 25 years and
chaired the department before taking a job as a history curriculum
specialist with the state Department of Education.

In early October, the week after former superintendent Dr. Kriner
Cash announced his departure, the All-Island School Committee asked a
group of top school administrators for recommendations. The group, also
known as the superintendent's cabinet, suggested the school board
appoint Edward Jerome as a short-term interim for about 90 days, and
Mrs. Harris as an interim for the remainder of the school year.

The board appointed Mr. Jerome to a three-month term the following
week, but held off on appointing its next interim until this week.

If he accepts the position, Mr. Dulac will replace Mr. Jerome on
Jan. 17 and serve a five-month term through June 30.

Applications for the permanent superintendent position, set to begin
on July 1, are due by Jan. 28.

Both Mrs. Harris and the third finalist, Dr. Thomas Johnson of
Harwichport, are eligible to apply for the permanent position. More than
one school board member said they hoped Mr. Dulac might apply for the
position as well.