by Marty Green
 

Harvard’s search for a permanent school superintendent is starting over from scratch. School Committee Chairwoman SusanMary Redinger made the announcement Monday night at the committee’s regular meeting. She said that the last remaining candidate, Scott Carpenter of Lincoln-Sudbury, had withdrawn his candidacy by email the day before.

Carpenter’s email read in part: “Unfortunately, after reflection over the past days, your search process and timeline have become less than desirable, and I would now not leave my present position for Harvard.  I will be withdrawing from your search to focus my energy elsewhere.”

Two weeks earlier, on Jan. 14, another finalist, Dr. Jessica Huizinga of Freetown-Lakeville, withdrew her application for “personal reasons.” The first of the three finalists originally selected by the search committee, Dr. Judith Paolucci of Yarmouth, Maine, withdrew in December to take another position.

Ten days ago, at a special meeting on Friday, Jan. 18, the School Committee had asked a subcommittee consisting of Redinger, School Committee member Keith Cheveralls, and interim Superintendent Joe Connelly to review the original applicant pool for other suitable candidates. However, Redinger said that she had decided in consultation with Cheveralls to end that review and recommend that the schools continue with an interim superintendent for the coming year.

“This search is now closed,” Redinger said.