'Gansett Super Job Goes To Casavant

'Gansett Super Job Goes To Casavant Gardner's school business officer happy to move up

+ click to enlarge TGN photo Chris Casavant Tara Vocino Reporter TEMPLETON  After an intensive search, the School Committee has selected Christopher D. Casavant for position of the superintendent, pending negotiations, for the Narra­gansett Regional School District. Mr. Casavant has served as the Gardner Public Schools school business administrator since 2012. I’m very pleased and excited at this point,” Mr. Casavant said. “I’m lucky. I’m thankful.” Mr. Casavant said he feels honored and already feels a connection, calling the district “a great fit.” Mr. Casavant beat out Stephen R. Don­ovan, who has served as the superintendent of schools in Acushnet since 2006. Final interviews were held with the two candidates by the School Committee early Tuesday evening, before the decision was made. School Committee Chairwoman Rae-Ann Trifilo said although there were similarities between the candidates’ responses, she chuckled at Mr. Casavant’s passion for not playing favorites. The question posed was: “Can you describe a situation in which you might have been expected to ‘play favorites’ or had to make a decision that would affect someone who might have been seeking favored treatment?” He made a comparison that when he was Gardner Middle School principal, he had 30 children who wanted to play team basketball, but he was more concerned about having everyone participate, not showing favoritism over players or positions. He said teams are usually smaller with about 15 players. On a more serious note, he said he’s never made a decision that negatively affected children. Ms. Trifilo said she was pleased with that answer. “That’s not anything that he could have rehearsed,” Ms. Trifilo said. “He placed a genuine emphasis on children. Numerous times, he said it came down to what’s good for kids.” Mr. Donovan said it’s important not to play favorites, even when people would ask, “can you do ‘x, y and z’ for me?” “You have to play straight across the board,” Mr. Donovan said. School Committee Member Victoria Chartier said Mr. Casavant was well-rooted in the community as a nearby Winchendon resident and a Gardner employee. She said she didn’t hear one negative thing in speaking to community or staff members about his performance or qualifications. “That speaks volumes. We’re very lucky that we had two strong candidates and that we’ve had the opportunity to talk to people who have met both of them,” Ms. Chartier said. “Although they felt that both were strong, they had a strong feeling about who came out on top.” Both candidates conducted site visits at Narragansett, where they informally met with staff, interim Superintendent Dr. Steve Hemman and parents, last month. The School Committee members also visited their school districts. Finalists were chosen in October. Both candidates went through confidential and public interviews as well as informal meet-and-greets within the few months. Mr. Donovan said he wishes Mr. Casavant and the district the best in moving forward. He said he felt he answered the questions to the best of his ability and said there wasn’t anything that he would have done differently. “I explained what I would do if I was selected for the position,” Mr. Donovan said. “They decided to go with the other candidate. I gave my best effort.” Mr. Casavant will replace Mr. Hemman, who’s been serving as interim superintendent since the beginning of the school year. Former Superintendent Ruth Miller resigned at the end of the previous school year. Pending negotiations, Mr. Casavant is expected to shadow Mr. Hemman off and on this year and take on the post full-time at the beginning of the next school year.