SHEFFIELD — The Southern Berkshire Regional School Committee will interview two finalists for the permanent superintendent’s position Monday.
The committee had planned to interview Brian Ricca and Elizabeth Legault, the two candidates recommended by the search committee, on Thursday night, but Legault was unavailable, prompting the interviews to be rescheduled.
The search began after Beth Regulbuto, the longtime leader of the five-town district, left for an assistant superintendent position in the larger Brockton Public Schools district.
Legault resigned from East Bridgewater Public Schools on April 1, according to her letter of resignation. She had served in the role for nine and a half years and wrote that she and the School Committee agreed it was time for new leadership.
Local area media previously reported that Legault was a finalist for superintendent positions in two districts in summer 2024.
Ricca, the former superintendent of East Greenwich Public Schools, was hired as Southern Berkshire’s interim superintendent for the school year and has been open about his interest in the permanent position.
He left his previous district after the teachers’ union voted no confidence in him. A news release from the National Education Association of Rhode Island said the vote stemmed from a “lack of collaboration and communication” and described Ricca as “absent.”
Ricca has said he was surprised by the vote and ultimately decided the district was not a good fit because of its size. While at the Southern Berkshire district, he said he has worked to be available and collaborative.
Meanwhile, officials said the search process itself was extensive.
During Tuesday’s School Committee meeting, Liz LaFond, of the Massachusetts Association of School Committees, said that although she was initially concerned about the 19-member search committee because it was so large, it became one of the best committees she has worked with.
She described the committee as “interested and very active in the process.” Members reviewed 19 applications, interviewed four candidates and recommended two finalists.
A motion to request a third candidate failed.
Read more on The Berkshire Eagle
