Groton — Superintendent Michael Graner has agreed to continue to lead the school district for an interim period during the COVID-19 pandemic, as the Board of Education searches for a new superintendent.

The Board of Education agreed this week to appoint Graner, who officially retired as superintendent last week, to serve as interim superintendent through Dec. 31.

“I’m more than willing because this pandemic has just been a real crisis, and we put together a team and then we have a plan for working our way through each of the issues,” Graner said by phone. “It would not be responsible for me to leave at this time, so I’m very happy to stay on.”

Board of Education Chair Kim Shepardson Watson said Graner has been instrumental in moving the district forward with its COVID-19 plan, and he has put a lot of effort into understanding how to plan for different learning formats. The board asked him to stay on to provide continuity while it looks for a replacement.

After Graner informed the board in June of his intention to retire on Oct. 16, the Board of Education hired CABE Search Consultant Mary Broderick to assist with the new superintendent search.

The consultant spoke with the board and then held focus groups and conducted surveys in August and September to hear what the community and district staff are looking for in the next superintendent, Shepardson Watson said. Broderick developed a "leadership profile" of criteria for the new superintendent based on the comments.

The Board of Education has whittled the pool of applicants down to a couple of candidates and is holding the first round of interviews this weekend, Shepardson Watson said. The board will then conduct a second round of interviews and hopefully select a finalist. The finalist would need to then likely give notice at his or her current job, and a goal is for there to be a transition period when both Graner and the new superintendent will be at the district.

Leadership profile

Based on the feedback, community members, parents, students, staff, and local officials are looking for a superintendent who “communicates and collaborates effectively and builds trusting relationships with students, staff and community,” according to the leadership profile.

“Groton’s successful new superintendent will understand the importance of cultivating caring, thoughtful relationships with all stakeholders, from students to families to staff to elected leaders at local and state levels to members of the general public, always building coalitions to support students and families,” the profile states. “A spirit of openness will continue to pervade the district, with volunteers welcome and students encouraged to connect with community resources.”

The new superintendent will be taking the helm after the recent opening of a new consolidated middle school and while planning for two new elementary schools and the transition to all intra-district magnet elementary schools next year are under way, the leadership profile pointed out. The changes are part of the Groton 2020 plan.

As the school district works to complete the plan, the superintendent should share a “vision of excellence and innovative instruction ... The successful leader will see and value the big picture, ensure Groton delivers on its promise, that every child feels valued and welcome in the schools and racial imbalances are corrected,” the profile states.

Other criteria listed include having a “broad base of knowledge" on educational issues and practices; keeping “students’ growth and wellbeing the primary focus;” being “accessible, approachable, and visible in schools and community” and being a “decisive, confident, objective problem solver with good judgment.”

The profile says the new superintendent should understand the special needs of military families, partner with employers in the community to help prepare students for careers, be committed to promoting diversity and pursue ongoing professional development for administrators and staff.

Since the superintendent will be overseeing the school district during a pandemic, the new leader also will need to keep students and staff safe and help children through the challenges of remote learning.

k.drelich@theday.com