Lanesborough-Williamstown Superintendent Choice 'Pleased' to Negotiate
WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — The Lanesborough-Williamstown public schools are moving forward with the school committees' selection for Tri-District superintendent, but it appears that choice continues to be a candidate for the top spot in West Springfield.
Douglas Dias has told officials at Mount Greylock and Superintendency Union 71 that he "would be pleased to enter negotiations with" the Tri-District, said Williamstown Elementary School Committee Chairwoman Valerie Hall on Wednesday.
The junior-senior high school school committee and SU71, a partnership of Williamstown and Lanesborough Elementary Schools, voted on Monday night to offer Dias the post, pending reference checks.
Meanwhile, the chairman of the West Springfield School Committee on Wednesday afternoon said there has been no change in Dias' status in that district's superintendent search.
West Springfield Mayor Edward Sullivan said the committee is aware Dias had been offered the job in the Berkshires.
"As far as I know, he has not reached out to anyone from West Springfield to relay this information," Sullivan wrote in an email seeking comment.
"Unless we hear otherwise, Dr. Dias is still scheduled to be in West Springfield on March 31st by 9 a.m. for a visit to our School District and community – with an interview starting at 6 p.m."
Dias earlier this month announced his resignation as principal of Medway High School, effective at the end of the school year, after he was named a finalist in both West Springfield and Lanesborough-Williamstown.
Hall, who serves on the Tri-District's Administrative Review Subcommittee, said that body will meet on Friday in executive session to prepare a proposed contract.
Meanwhile, members of the Mount Greylock, Lanesborough and Williamstown school committees are conducting reference checks by telephone.
Hall said the Tri-District had not asked Dias about his other opportunities.
The West Spingfield job did not come up in Monday's 90-minute interview, but the prospect of losing their preferred candidate appeared to drive the committee members' decision to vote on Monday, before performing reference checks on either Dias or the other finalist they interviewed.
Tags: candidates, finalists, MGRHS, SU71, superintendent,
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