The School Committee voted unanimously at its May 27 meeting to appoint Pamela DeGregorio to be the new director of Special Education to replace Charles Horn, who is stepping down at the end of the school year. DeGregorio has been the director of student services for the schools in Greenfield for the last two years. She also taught middle school special education classes for 20 years in that town, and then served as the Special Education coordinator for the Greenfield Middle School from 2003 to 2006.
According to School Superintendent Tom Jefferson, the pool of candidates for the position was quite strong, with several current Special Education directors among those vying for the job. A screening committee made up of teachers, parents, and administrators sifted through the applications and interviewed seven semi-finalists, with the top four candidates then each coming in for a full day of interviews with staff and interested parents. After the interviews and background reference checks, DeGregorio emerged as the strongest candidate, Jefferson said.
“It is with great pride and enthusiasm that I present her,” he told the board before the vote.
School board member Keith Cheveralls did raise the question of how the board could be assured that the provisions of the new contract with DeGregorio were in order, because the vote to approve the appointment would come before the contract is actually negotiated. Board Chairman Stu Sklar noted that the board had previously discussed the general parameters of the contract in executive session, and member Willie Wickman said the board should trust its superintendent to negotiate the contract. This did not mollify Cheveralls, however.
“I don’t foresee any glitches, but if I’m responsible [for the contract] I want to see it,” before it’s signed, Cheveralls insisted.
Sklar then asked Jefferson to notify board members when the contract is negotiated, so they could look it over in his office before it is finalized. Jefferson agreed, which satisfied Cheveralls.
Several audience members asked questions about the contract, such as whether the new director would have a higher salary than Horn’s, and whether DeGregorio would receive a moving or housing allowance. Wickman replied that the new director would be offered a salary roughly 10 percent less than Horn’s. Jefferson said DeGregorio currently lives only 45 minutes from Harvard, so would not get a housing or moving allowance. The board then proceeded with the vote to approve DeGregorio.
