Try again
We need school committee members who recognize what talent we have in house.Hard to comprehend how an educator with 27 years in our school system isn't quite ready yet and can actually be mentored by a newcomer in our school system.this appears to politics at its best.

Dr. Smith is a tyrant and never should be in control.

It's time to reward our present employees for their years of excellent service & stop searching high & low for someone who has no alligence to our Town.....Wake up SC and stop making the same mistakes again......learn from your mistakes....don't repeat another one like losing Rose Ditullio....who's to say Dr. Smith is going to continue to stay put here...

From the get go I think "nationwide searches" are ridiculous when we do have talent in Wakefield. If we don't, then that in itself would be very sad.

Last night's meeting should wake everyone up to what's going on with this School Committee. Blatant disregard for what the voters of Wakefield clearly wanted. Evan Kenney showed political courage in an articulate and intelligent way with his support of Dr. Smith. Too bad some of the current members aren't as in tune with their job as elected officials in service of the voters. Let's hope Dr. Smith will stay and forgive this ridiculous decision.

If there was ever an internal candidate that earned the seven votes of the school committee, it was Dr.Kim Smith. She demonstrated 27 years of accomplishments and success in Wakefield yet a "Meryl Streep" candidate swept committee members off their collective feet. Dr. Zrike will be gone from Wakefield within 2-3 years should he negotiate a contract with the school committee. He will be on prowl for the next "fantastic opportunity". Frogs don't jump as much as Dr Zrike!

Looking at the big picture though, majority rules and these folks spent a ton of time thinking it through. So we at least have to give their decision the benefit of the doubt. What if we love Dr. Zrike as much as we loved Joan? (or as much as I loved Joan). :) Chin up.

The only thing Dr. Smith is good at doing is manipulating everyone into believing she is perfect and can do no wrong. I for one am glad the school committee saw through her bs and went with the right choice. For all our sakes, let's hope he accepts

There should not be a bidding war for this position. This committee should have a figure in their budget for this including any perks they will be offering above the salary,which I hope will be fully disclosed to the taxpayers before being offered.

I hope you all were able to take the time to meet with each candidate, read their resumes and watched the meetings. The school committee and town was thoughtful in their approach to solicit candidates and it was a very detailed process. If you had concerns or opinions regarding the candidates, I hope you shared them prior to the vote with the sc and the chair. I took the time and met with each candidate and I sent my thoughts to the chair and certainly hope my letter was received by all members -- so they could see input from the community. This was a town effort -- not just in the hands of the SC. At two of the open meet and greets- at one I was the only one who attended and the other I was there for about a half hour before a few more people arrived. I believe from what I have heard and seen that the SC did put forth the candidate that their constituency wanted or the ones they heard from.

This was long and very difficult process.The Superintendent search is now over. I think the question now is, as a town have we have potentially lost one of our best? Dr. Smith has done so much for Wakefield. I would assume if Wakefield is not willing provide her with the professional development she is seeking, she will find one of the many districts that will. Dr. Smith still has a lot to offer Wakefield and as a town we should support her continued partnership and leadership.

Dr. Smith may be nice. Dr. Smith may have done some good things. I am tired of Wakefield giving jobs to local people just because they are local and nice. A great band leader or a good Principal does not make a great Superintendent. We only have to look to Joan Landers to see this. Joan was an excellent Assitant SPED Director and one of the nicest people ever. Joan was a terrible leader for Wakefield and as nice as she is it is a very good thing for our kids that she has moved on. Maybe she will do better working with people she didn't rise up with.

There are far too many incestuous relationships that go on within our school system. Let's step it up and ensure people are in the job they are in because they are great at what they do not because of their last name or who they know! Our kids DESERVE the best, not all of the political B.S.

I applaud the four members of our school committee who decided our children deserved a PROVEN leader and not another person who would learn how to do the job while on the job. There were MANY people who felt this way but may have been less public about it as people take it the wrong way. It is not "anti" Kim Smith to feel she is not ready for the job people!

Kudos to Lisa Butler, Anne Danehy, Janine Cook and Kate Morgan for doing the right thing.

I am tired of people who stand on a soap box with a mask on. I could agree or disagree with parts of your rant. But without a name, it is not worthy.

Wouldn't it be nice to take the mask off. Sadly those who do are tarred and feathered for it.

Well everyone else on here took that risk. Further, by not doing so you are doing an injustice to those you are trying to sing praises to because you give the illusion that it may be your own horn you are tooting. Catch my drift?

Drift caught, definately not tooting my own horn. Protecting my own a$$ instead.

Many know what I said is the truth. Smith is nice but nice is not always what is best.

Another thing, for another time, is we should consider paying our elected officials. Doesn't have to be much but maybe we'll get a better candidate pool that way. While a town run by volunteers is nice it also creates problems. You get what you pay for...

This whole thing was a joke! These people are elected officials. Which means they speak for us (the voter) if the town held an election tomorrow Doctor Smith would win in a land slide, instead the arrogance and attitude of certain members of the school committee felt they know better than the voters of this town. The stupid comments of Meryl Streep by Ms. Danehy show a lack of knowledge. Meryl Streep takes the money where they pay her just like Mr. Zrike will do when we get outbid by another school system. Not to mention Ms. Danehy had no idea that we could be in a bidding war with another school. So lets out bid another town for someone. Lets remember Ms. Landers left because she wanted a raise. Instead we will now have a bidding war. Makes sense right? Also, Lisa Butler rolling her eyes while Mr. Piskadlo was speaking was unprofessional. These committees have made mistakes over the years going back to not hiring Joe Sullivan as principal. My only hope in the future is that the next time a vote comes up that means so much to the people of Wakefield that you four who voted against what the people of this town wanted are sitting home watching it on TV. You do not know more than the voters and don't ever think you do. I'm looking forward to your reelection campaign.

Heidi-Jean Rossicone every comment you've made has been spot on! You've saved me much time in responding today.

Thank you. :)

Dr. Smith's detractors certainly have every right to their opinions as does everyone else on this matter, but pardon me and everyone else for being skeptical regarding motives when not one of these so called "many" people have seen fit to speak or write publicly except one who has to wear a mask as Heidi calls it. What is everyone afraid of? Are there vigilante gangs of public opinion avengers riding around Wakefield or something? If you're going to stand up for what you believe in then stand up for what you believe in, be an adult. Unless these "many" people don't actually exist....
I agree with what Kevin had to say earlier, we do need to be concerned about whether we have just lost one of Wakefield's best. Hopefully if Dr. Zrike does accept this position, Dr. Smith will agree to stay and Wakefield will provide her with the professional development she wants and deserves.

Concerned (but nameless) in Wakefield remains nameless out of fear of being "tarred and feathered" over his or her opinions. Funny, Concerned doesn't seem to have a problem publicly, and by name, tarring and feathering Joan Landers and Kim Smith here on Wakefield Patch. Additionally, I don't believe anyone who has seriously advocated for Dr. Smith to be named Superintendent has done so because she is "nice" but rather because she has proven herself over the last 27 years to be hard working, intelligent and tremendously successful. The fact that she has demonstrated an exceptional dedication to Wakefield and its students is a bonus for certain, but it is also just a bonus. If Concerned is tired of jobs being given to local people just because they are local, then Dr. Smith shouldn't be a problem since she is not local and has never been local. She is from the south shore and still lives there today.

In the final analysis, whether the flood of public opinion came in to the School Committee on Day One, six months ago, or one month ago as Chris Callanan mentioned in the meeting Thursday night, the Committee is composed of elected officials whose number one duty is to represent the voters of Wakefield. From what I have read, seen on television, and heard in conversation, the overwhelming sentiment in town is that the position should have been offered to Dr. Smith. Even the Committee members themselves unanimously agreed that both candidates were eminently qualified and would both make excellent Superintendents. When you combine that with Dr. Smith's PROVEN dedication and commitment to this community and the overwhelming public support of the community, the decision of Lisa Butler, Janine Cook, Anne Danehy and Kate Morgan leaves me scratching my head. But that's why we have elections.

Nameless means spineless

My vote was Dr. Smith also. The ladies of the school committee that were advocating for change have voted for a candidate whose expertise appears to lie with English as a second language, low-income and largely Latino school populations. I for the life of me do not see how this expertise would be beneficial to Wakefield. New Bedford would appear to be a much better fit for Dr. Zrike. We all need to remember this when School Committee Voting time comes around.

My vote, were I still on the committee, would have been for Kim Smith. She has done some remnarkable things during her many years here in Wakefield and has demonstrated her leadership ability. We need a solid leader that understands the needs of our system but who can also deal with the needs of education in America. I think Dr. Smith can do this. Does she have experience as a Superintendent? No! Does she have the interests of the children of Wakefield at heart? Absolutel yes! Does she bring leadership to the position? Absolutely yes!

Now, with that said, I do respect the right of each elected member of the School Committee to cast their vote as they see fit, whether I agree or not. If each member voted in what they thought was the right way there is nothing more we can ask of them.

I think we missed an opportunity and I thank Dr. Smith for all that she has done for Wakefield and look forward to her continued leadership in the positin she currently holds.

I hope we do not get into a bidding war with the successful candidate.

I attended some events but honestly, not as many as I would've liked. I will say that I was less than impressed with the turnout at the events that I did attend. While someone suggested that the vote should have been district wide (as opposed to just SC members), considering the low turnouts, I for one, would be be concerned that some people were voting out of loyalty rather than what was best for our schools and ultimately, our children.
While I, nor anyone else, can foresee the future or the long term implications of the SC's choice, I do believe that WPS is long over due for some changes. In an ideal world, wouldn't it have been great if the SC could have hired Dr. Zrike as superintendent and Dr. Smith as assistant superintendent? We would have had the best of both worlds - a leader who has fought fires and seen how the other half lives AND a leader who knows Wakefield - out strengths, weaknesses, AND politics? Unfortunately, given Mr. Maoi's very clear message last week regarding his unwillingness to provide any additional financial support to our schools, it isn't nor will it ever be an option for us. What an amazing opportunity that would've been for both Dr. Smith AND our children. Yes, Dr. Smith has done an exceptional job and has worked tirelessly for our children but that alone wouldn't ensure her success as a superintendent. I can only imagine how much she (and hopefully all of te staff) will grow, learn, and flourish under a leadership of Dr. Zrike.

Interesting column from New Bedford.
http://www.joshamaral.com/what-i-saw-from-zrike/

I'm sure he will enjoy our Urban sprawl known as Wakefield population 25K

I just read that Dr. Zrike was not chosen for New Bedford's Superintendent. Maybe he will be "prepared" to accept Wakefield's offer now. I think a big mistake was made by not choosing Dr. Smith and I would not be surprised if Dr. Smith moves on instead of being "mentored" by Dr. Zrike.

I'm just wondering how much a 36 year old who has never actually been a Superintendent of Schools can actually "mentor" Dr. Smith who has been working in leadership positions here in the Wakefield Public Schools since he was a 9 year old.

Does anyone wonder why we cannot seem to hold on to a Superintendent here in Wakefield?