Search begins for new Marblehead school business manager

MARBLEHEAD – Superintendent of Schools Greg Maass is ready to start a search for a permanent school business manager.Nearly six months ago, when he hired former Winthrop school business manager Kevin Meagher as interim school business manager, Maass said he would conduct a search for a permanent business manager and Meagher could apply for the position.Since then Meagher has closed a $121,000 Fiscal 2011 budget deficit, helped to write a new change order policy for the Glover School building project to make sure that all construction expenses are reimburseable and successfully passed a state public contracting seminar.Maass announced the seminar news to the School Committee Thursday evening. School Committee Chairman EuRim Chun said the seminar made Meagher “somebody we can rely on for all procurement issues.”Maass said after the meeting that he would try to get the hiring process started early next month. He has said that he prefers to do thorough searches before hiring, to attract the best talent possible.Meagher has 10 years experience, including six as Winthrop?s school business manager. He left that job in February because the town planned to combine the town and school business management positions, and he has referred to the interim job as “a foot in the door.”In other business, the committee received architect Robert Schaeffner?s resignation as co-chairman of the Glover School Building Committee. Named to that post for his public presentation skills about a year ago by former Chairman Patricia Blackmer, Schaeffner is credited with helping to get the project approved by Town Meeting and the voters. He said he was stepping down as chair but would continue to serve as a member.?I was honored that you entrusted me as the ?face? of the committee,” Schaeffner wrote. He said “professional responsibilities” were taking more time.Co-Chairman Dick Nohelty, who will now chair the committee by himself, said he “tried to talk Bob out of sending the letter.”The School Committee voted to thank Schaeffner for his service as chair and keep him on the committee.