By The Times Staff

According to reports issued by the city, the search for Somerville’s next Superintendent of Schools is well under way with national outreach by the Somerville School Committee and the consulting firm of Hazard, Young, Attea & Associates (HYA) for the top educational leadership position in the City. HYA was engaged by the School Committee earlier this year to assist in the search for Somerville’s next Superintendent after current Superintendent Tony Pierantozzi announced his retirement effective July 2015 following 10 years of distinguished service with the Somerville Public Schools.

Interested applicants for this position are encouraged to view the Somerville Superintendent Search Brochure for a description of this position and the opportunities that the position offers, and apply at http://www.topschooljobs.org/jobs/11443-95254/Superintendent-Somerville-Pu.

HYA will conduct the initial review of candidates and will be recruiting and reaching out to potential applicants who might be a good fit for Somerville, based on a leadership profile developed by the firm following extensive outreach within the Somerville community. The Leadership Profile, Superintendent Search Brochure, minutes of the Superintendent Search Committee meetings, and additional information about the search process are available at www.somerville.k12.ma.us.

School Committee member Paul Bockelman (Ward 6) who is chairing the Search Committee said, “We will be seeking the thoughts and opinions of the public to inform the School Committee’s final decision. We expect to have our finalist candidates in the city to meet people on December 2, 3, and 4. So, save those dates!”

The School Committee has established a 7-member advisory committee to conduct the first round of interviews prior to Thanksgiving. This first round of interviews of approximately 5 candidates will be done in Executive Session, as permitted by law. School Committee member Adam Sweeting from Ward 3 will chair this committee. Other members of the advisory committee are School Committee members Carrie Normand (Ward 7), Laura Pitone (Ward 5), and Steve Roix (Ward 1); Ms. Nelia Braga, a teacher at Somerville High School and mother of two; Ms. Rupinder Kaur, a recent Somerville High School graduate and current student at Wentworth Institute of Technology; and Ms. Lupe Ojeda, a parent of children in the district and a board member and parent leader at The Welcome Project.

The advisory committee will narrow the list of candidates down to three finalists to present to the full School Committee for consideration. Each finalist will be brought to Somerville for a full day in early December for an opportunity to meet the community and to be interviewed in open session by the School Committee. Finalist interviews are scheduled for December 2, 3, and 4. Public interviews will also be televised on local cable television.

Community members will have an opportunity to offer input on the three finalists to School Committee members from December 4th through December 8th. The School Committee plans to vote on a final candidate on December 8, 2014.