Aitken Principal Search Committee Formed

A search committee for a new Principal at Aitken Elementary School has been launched. Principal David Graf is leaving at the end of the school year.

Assistant Superintendent Zach Waddicor said Monday there is a “pretty healthy pool” of applicants for the position. 17 candidates have submitted their resumes to the committee.

Waddicor said the deadline for application is open until May 9. There are 12 committee members, which include central office administrators, school committee members, teachers, and parents.

Six to ten candidates will be interviewed over the course of two days and a list of finalists will be sent to the Superintendent for another round of interviews.

Interviews will be conducted before the end of the month. Waddicor hopes Graf’s replacement will be hired before the conclusion of the school year in June.

“It’s an ambitious timeline due to the time of year, but I’m really fortunate that we already have 17 applicants,” Waddicor said, noting many of them are already certified and are sitting principals or assistant principals.

Superintendent Rebecca Kidwell said a search is also underway for a part-time athletic administrator position. Seekonk High School Principal William Whalen and Hurley Middle School Principal Alexis Bouchard will serve as co-chairs for the search.

“There will be a committee doing full interviews,” Kidwell noted.

The position does not have a timeline. However, Whalen and Bouchard have scheduled the committee for interview dates at the end of May, and invitations to selected candidates will be made after the advertisement closes on May 14. Kidwell expects the position will be filled early in June. The start date is July 1.