Dedham School Committee to Begin Deliberations on Superintendent Finalists

The Dedham School Committee on Thursday will begin final deliberations on the hiring of a new superintendent for the Dedham Public School system, school officials said Wednesday. 

The meeting will begin at 7 p.m. on Thursday, March 27 at Dedham High School in the buidling's library. There, officials will begin the deliberations on choosing who will replace current superintendent June Doe, who is set to retire at the end of the school year. 

The session marks the culmination of a months-long search that resulted in 33 applications for the position and led to three finalists: 

• Joel Antolini, Assistant Superintendent of North Attleboro Public Schools
• Michael Welch, Principal of Framinhgam High School
• Dr. Mary Anne De Mello, Assistant Superintendent of Hopkinton Public Schools

The finalists were interviewed by the school committee last week in open public sessions after the candidates met with teachers, staff and administrators. The interviews can be viewed on Dedham TV through Thursday night.

This past week, Dedham School Committee members visited each of the finalist's home work sites to talk with colleagues, parents and administrators. 

"We have reached out to the Dedham community at every stage of the process and it has responded in kind," School Committee Chair Joe Heisler said in a statement. "From development of the candidate profile, to the work of the 15 member screening committee, and the feedback to the formal interviews, the community has let us know what it is they think are the most important qualities of a new superintendent. I am also extremely proud of the hard work and effort put forth by my colleagues on the committee. It is now time for us to make our judgement and come to a consensus on who is best equipped and most qualified to lead our schools into the future."