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.