WARE – The search for a new superintendent of Ware Public Schools has been narrowed down to three finalists.

During the Dec. 21 School Committee meeting, Search Committee Chair and student representative Nick Bousquet noted that applications for the superintendent search closed on Nov. 29. A total of 19 applications were received and reviewed by the search committee.

On Dec. 5, members of the search committee met in executive session to review all applicants. “At that time, seven semi-finalists were selected for confidential interviews in executive session,” said Bousquet. Those interviews were conducted by the search committee on Dec. 12, 13 and 14.

“At the end of the final interview, the search committee deliberated regarding their recommendation to the Ware School Committee,” shared Bousquet. Three individuals were recommended as finalists for the position of Ware superintendent.

The first finalist is William E. Collins, a previous superintendent of the Parishville-Hopkinton Central School District in Parishville, NY, and past principal of William E. Norris Elementary School in Southampton. Collins also served as the program coordinator of Graduate Educational Leadership and assistant professor of education at St. Lawrence University in Canton, NY.

Bousquet noted that Collins has a doctorate in educational leadership from Boston College, both a certificate of postgraduate studies in administrative leadership and a Master of Education in school counseling from Bridgewater State University, and a Bachelor of Arts in liberal studies from Anna Maria College.

The next finalist is Robert J. Gerardi, Jr. Gerardi is currently superintendent of the New Shoreham School Department on Block Island. “Dr. Gerardi served for eight years as the superintendent of the Maynard Public Schools,” shared Bousquet. “He also previously served as the finance director of the Minuteman Regional School District and as superintendent of the Woonsocket Public Schools.”

Gerardi has a Doctorate of Philosophy in educational administration from Boston College, a Master of Education in secondary administration from Providence College and a Bachelor of Science in industrial arts education from Rhode Island College.

The third finalist is Michael P. Lovato. Lovato currently serves as assistant superintendent of teaching and learning in the Chelsea Public Schools. Prior to this, he served as the director of special education in the Lowell Public Schools; as superintendent in Questa Independent Schools in Questa, NM; as associate superintendent in Las Vegas City Schools; and as a turnaround principal for the Santa Fe Public Schools in New Mexico. He also served in the New Mexico Army National Guard.

Lovato has a doctorate in education and organizational leadership from Grand Canyon University, an administrative certificate from the University of Mexico, a Master of Arts and special education from New Mexico Highlands University, a certificate as an educational diagnostician from Texas Tech University, a Bachelor of Arts in criminology from the University of New Mexico and an associates in arts and applied sciences from the Dona Ana Community College.

Tracy Novick from the Massachusetts Association of School Committees (MASC) shared that the next steps in terms of the search are visitations in both directions – for the finalists to visit Ware Public Schools and for the School Committee to visit the finalists home districts. Because of the distance to some of those districts, Novick said the meetings could be conducted on Zoom if necessary.

After the visitations take place, the School Committee will conduct interviews and deliberate. Novick said interviews are typically scheduled for about 75 minutes each and can also be conducted in person or on Zoom. School Committee Chair Christopher Desjardins said he prefers an in-person interview as there is a bit of a disconnect by doing it on Zoom. Some other members agreed and said when the finalists are visiting the district – if it works out for all parties – the interview could be conducted then. At the time of the meeting, interviews were slated for the week of Jan. 9, 2023. School Committee member Aaron Sawabi recognized Novick for her assistance throughout the process. As a member of the search committee, Sawabi shared that he thought the “process went very smoothly” with a variety of candidates.

Desjardins also expressed his gratitude to the search committee and Novick for putting an extensive amount of time into the process.

Novick went on to recognize Bousquet for doing “an admirable” job as he is a student representative serving as the chair of the search committee.