That person will take over for Dr. Ernest Perlini, who will retire at the end of the school year after 40 years as an educator in the district and even longer as a resident.
At the close of the application period for the next superintendent, the executive search team at Cooperative Educational Services, a consulting firm hired by the Board of Education, received 17 applications for the position. Eleven of the applicants were sitting superintendents and five were from outside the state of Connecticut.
"The Board of Education is extremely pleased with the quality of candidates who have expressed interest in Newington schools," said Board of Education Chairman Daniel W. Carson, Sr. "Because of its reputation and academic standing Newington has clearly attracted some of the best and brightest leaders in education."
Board member Stephen R. Woods was a member of a screening committee that reviewed the applications.
Woods said all were excellent candidates that were qualified and had many strengths. The challenge, he said, is to find that person that has all of the right qualities for the town.
"I'm extremely confident that whoever is picked at this point will make an excellent superintendent," he said.
Woods praised Perlini as someone who has gone "above and beyond" for the children in town.
He said the goal is to bring in someone with stability that can strengthen an excellent school system.
The process for the new superintendent gained steam in March, when administrators, teachers, support staff, parents and members of the Newington community attended focus group meetings to discuss and outline the qualifications of the new superintendent. Based on the profile developed, qualified candidates were invited to apply.
The Newington Board of Education formed a screening committee to review applications. The board then conducted interviews to narrow the selection to two final candidates.
The Superintendent Search Committee met Monday to interview the final candidates. The advertised compensation for the position was in a range of $180,000 to $210,000.
The new superintendent will take on the full responsibilities of the position this summer pending negotiations and release from contract with their current district, school officials said.