The Board of Education moved one step further in its search for a superintendent during a special meeting on Tuesday, August 6, when it unanimously voted to hire the Connecticut Association of Boards of Education (CABE) to act as a consultant.

Board of Education Chair Debbie Leidlein said, following the meeting, that it was a tough decision between CABE and Cooperative Education Services (CES), based out of Trumbull, as both firms were good contenders.

 Now that CABE has been chosen, Ms Leidlein said the school board will begin negotiations regarding a contract with the school district and exact costs.

According to Ms Leidlein, the decision, “…means that we will be getting the process under way.”

“I’m enthusiastic about going through the process and finding the right leader to continue to move us forward,” said Ms Leidlein.

At its March 5, meeting the school board announced it had received Superintendent of Schools Janet Robinson’s letter of resignation, and by the end of that meeting, the board passed two motions to begin searching for both an interim and a permanent superintendent.

By the end of March the school board had unanimously selected former Newtown Superintendent of Schools John Reed to act as interim superintendent in the school district.

Ms Leidlein said her board will be planning focus groups and surveys to gather community input on what traits the school board should look for in a superintendent.

“We’ll make sure we get the word out through multiple methods in order to reach as many people as possible,” said Ms Leidlein, who added the school district effects all members of the community, not just those immediately involved in the school community.