Swansea Superintendent John Robidoux, was unanimously voted to become the town’s next interim superintendent at Thursday’s School Committee meeting.
After 18 years in the Swansea district, Robidoux decided to not seek a renewal of his contract due to school committee members’ unwillingness to work with him.
While reviewing the day in the district in Swansea at a previous meeting, committee members spoke highly of Robidoux. Committee member Brian Ota said he and fellow member, Al Williams, met with a Swansea School Committee member and an elementary school principal in the district.
Ota said that he feels “very comfortable” with what he learned after speaking with members of the district, as well as Robidoux himself.
“To summarize our discussions, Mr. Robidoux is a very strong superintendent. His evaluations were always very proficient,” Ota said.
Robidoux also completed a day in the district in Marblehead. When reviewing the committee’s interpretation of Robidoux involvement in the town’s district, the secretary of the school committee, Alison Taylor said, “he would be a great add, there is no question in my mind about it.”
Williams agreed, adding, “I do think he would make a very good person for the job.”
Co-chairperson Jennifer Schaeffner said she feels “very strongly,” about choosing Robidoux for this position.
Schaeffner said she would like to offer a two-year interim contract to Robidoux, instead of the current one-year position. Williams, Ota, and Taylor also agreed with Schaeffner.
Chairperson Sarah Fox said before discussing a two-year contract, they must confer with Robidoux about a possible extension of this position.
“I want to make sure this is something that he is also interested in because we want to make sure that this is what he was looking for. If that is what we have advertised we have to be willing to follow through on that,” she said.
Fox said, “During his contract negotiations, I can absolutely relay to him that we would like to start at the point of a two-year [contract].”
Hingham interim Director of Student Services Barbara Cataldo withdrew her name from the running, leaving Robidox to run unopposed. Cataldo withdrew from the race because her current district was retaining her as the district’s interim superintendent.