School Year Off to Great Start

Interim superintendent Dr. Christopher Martes discusses opening of school year, goals and hobbies.

Though school has been in session for a week and a half, the transition to the new year has been nearly flawless, according to interim superintendent Dr. Christopher Martes. When Norton Patch spoke with Martes last week, he couldn’t believe that it was only the fourth day of school. “It seems like we’ve been in school longer than that because everything is up and running,” Marts said. “The schedules are going well. Transportation, we usually have a few things to iron out with the routes, things that are being taken care of right now. So, I think it’s been a very positive start and I’m happy to be back doing the work.” Getting more acquainted with Norton and its schools is important to Martes, who lives in Easton. “This [Norton school] …

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Martes Offered Interim Superintendent Position

Next step is contract negotiations.

The School Committee has chosen Dr. Christopher Martes as the interim superintendent for Norton Public Schools. “I think the field of candidates was excellent,” said Committee member Beth McManus. “To me Martes rises to the top.” The Easton resident retired last year as superintendent for Foxborough Public Schools. Previously he was superintendent in Framingham for four years until 2007, when he was hired in his hometown of Foxborough. Martes started as a fifth grade teacher in Foxborough. One strength that stood out to Norton School Committee members is that he spent three years in a building project similar to Norton High School’s. “Martes has political skills that would serve Norton well,” said Committee Member Deniz Savas. “He has a …

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School Committee Hopes to Have Interim Superintendent by Next Week

Four finalists interviewed Wednesday night.

Though no decisions were made after the Norton School Committee interviewed Steven Hiersche, Christopher Martes, Michael Malone and David Cressy Wednesday night, they plan to have one by Wednesday. The contract for current superintendent Dr. Patricia Ansay is up Aug. 28, so the Committee hopes to have an interim in place as soon as possible. For the past three years Hiersche has been superintendent for Framingham Public Schools. He spent six years as superintendent in Plymouth and five more in Watertown. Previously he was a mathematics and computer science teacher, then principal at the middle and high school levels. Hiersche has experience working on building projects and is familiar with Race to the Top, an education reform initiative. …

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School Committee Notebook for June 11 Meeting

Bake sales during school hours banned, another finalist named for interim superintendent position.

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Agenda for June 11 School and Conservation Committee Meetings

The Conservation Committee will meet tonight to go over the Pheeny's Island project and other items. Though the meeting will begin 7 p.m. at Town Hall, it will be moved to Norton Public Library at 8:30 p.m. to make room for a large crowd.  The School Committee will start their 6 p.m. meeting off by interviewing a candidate for the interim superintendent position. Following that the high school building project and fiscal year 2012 budget will be discussed. To see what else is on the agenda at both meetings, scroll through the attached PDFs. 

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Superintendent Search Goes Back to the Drawing Board

Interim superintendent to be hired until permanent replacement found.

The Norton School Committee voted to start the search for a new superintendent from scratch at Monday night’s meeting. After discussing the options, the Committee decided that the best course of action is to hire an interim superintendent until a permanent selection is made. When word got out that contract negotiations failed with Ann Bradshaw of Mashpee School District, three or four possible candidates  came forward interested in an interim position. “With an interim, you are going to get someone in who was already a superintendent,” said  Superintendent Search Committee chairwoman and School Committee member Beth McManus. “They have also worked in other school districts. They are knowledgeable.” The Committee decided against going with …

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