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Board Plans to Appoint Kishimoto As Superintendent

By Vanessa de la Torre

March 01, 2011

This just in: The board of education released a statement a few minutes ago saying it plans to appoint Assistant Superintendent Christina Kishimoto as Steven Adamowski's successor at a special meeting Wednesday.

The board said it considered Mayor Pedro Segarra's request for a national search, but that the selection committee, which met Saturday morning to deliberate, "firmly stands behind the integrity of the search process" and its recommended choice in Kishimoto.

We've left Kishimoto a request for comment.

The meeting will take place at 5:30 p.m. in the media center at Hartford Public High School, 55 Forest Street. As you might recall, that was the site of last week's planned appointment of Kishimoto before the board canceled its vote with only hours to go.

Here is the board's full statement: HBOE Statement.pdf

UPDATE at 4:40 p.m.: In an interview, board Chairman David MacDonald said that "the board is very supportive of the reform, and we think the best way to transition from the current superintendent to a new superintendent is to promote a qualified, internal candidate who understands the reform inside and out."

Does he anticipate any surprises tomorrow? "In this town, you never know," MacDonald said. "But we're not expecting any. We're expecting to move forward."

And what does Segarra think? His spokesperson, Sarah Barr, just released this statement:

"As a community member, educator and Mayor, I stood up and voiced my concerns and I will continue to do so in the future," Segarra said.

"I will proactively work with the Board of Education for the good of all of Hartford's families and children."