Final four in search for school chief.

Byline: Bill Fortier

AUBURN -Two area school administrators are among the four finalists for the school superintendent

job here.

The four finalists recommended at last night's School Committee meeting by the Superintendent Search Committee are Mary Ellen Brunelle, associate superintendent of the Tantasqua-Union 61 School District; Judith A. Evans, assistant superintendent of the Shrewsbury public schools; James M. Rice, assistant superintendent of schools in North Attleboro; and Lynne Celli Sarasin, deputy superintendent of schools in Lexington.

Ms. Brunelle was principal at the Bryn Mawr Elementary School from 2001 to 2006, according to a brief description of the finalists presented last night. Mr. Rice was principal of an elementary school in Northbridge from 2000 to 2004 and Ms. Sarasin was director of curriculum of the Gardner school system from 2002 to 2005.

Nineteen applications were received for the post, said Patricia Correira, field director-training and development for the Massachusetts Association of School Committees. The search committee interviewed 10 candidates for the post, which had opened up at the end of the 2006-2007 school year when the School Committee opted not to renew the contract of Helene Skrzyniarz. William E. Allen is now

interim superintendent of schools.

The job is expected to pay between $140,000 and $150,000 a year.

"You have four really outstanding candidates," said Ms. Correira, who worked with the screening committee on the search for a permanent school superintendent.

"No doubt," added School Committee and screening committee member Wayne C. Page, who said after the meeting it will be a tough decision to make when it comes time to name the new school chief.

"I think they are all really outstanding," said screening committee chairman Elizabeth A. Gribbons, also a member of the School Committee.

"I cannot tell you how excited they are," Ms. Correira said. "If you heard them on the phone you would understand.'

Ms. Brunelle is scheduled to be interviewed by the school committee Feb. 25 while Ms. Evans and Mr. Rice will be quizzed the next night. Ms Sarasin's session is scheduled for Feb. 27. The interviews, which are open to the public, are scheduled to last for 90 minutes. The interviews will be held in the high school presentation room. Mr. Rice's interview is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. while the others are slated to begin at 6 p.m.

An appointment will be made either on Feb. 28 or March 3, School Committee member Janie Casello Bouges said.

The finalists are scheduled to visit the school system next week while the school committee is going to visit their school systems the following week, according to a schedule passed out last night by Ms. Correira. The panel will meet with Ms. Correira at 7 p.m. Feb. 12 at the Randall School to discuss the site visits and compose a list of final questions.

Last night's meeting was held at 7 p.m. in the Randall School even though it was posted in town hall for 6 p.m. in the high school presentation room. Mr. Allen said the confusion was the result of a miscommunication in the school department's central office.

NAME: AUBURN SCHOOL COMMITTEE