School Board Taps MHS Principal As Next Superintendent

As part of its meeting Monday , Sept. 9, 2013, the Manchester Board of Education unanimously voted to enter into negotiations with Manchester High School Principal Matthew Geary to become the new Superintendent of Manchester Public Schools. 

The search committee to fill the position, which itself was the Manchester Board of Education, had been searching for 15 months to fill the position, according to information released by Interim Superintendent Richard Kisiel. The committee reviewed more than 20 applicants and interviewed seven candidates before settling on Geary. 

The school board must still negotiate a contract with Geary and then formally vote to approve the agreement. Kisiel told Patch on Thursday, Sept. 12, 2013, that he had no knowledge of the negotiations between Geary and the school board and that he was not involved in them. 
"That's something I stay out of," he said. 

Kisiel was appointed interim superintendent in October of 2011 to replace Kathleen Ouellette, who departed for the superintendent position in the Waterbury public school system. 

Geary was hired as principal of Manchester High School in April of 2012. Prior to that, he served as principal at Watertown High School since 2007. 

In an interesting twist, Kisiel served as one of Geary's instructors at the University of Connecticut's Executive Leadership Program, which is required for any individual seeking an administrative position within a public school in Connecticut. 

Geary would remain in his current position as principal of Manchester High School until the end of the school year, and would officially assume the position of superintendent on July 1, 2014 if the two sides can settle on a contract. 

“This school year provides a unique opportunity for Mr. Geary to shadow the work of the current interim superintendent, allow him to transition into his new role, and provide administrative stability within the district as Mr. Geary and Dr. Kisiel initiate the search for a new high school principal," Board of Education Chairman Chris Pattacini said in a statement. 

Pattacini said he hopes to finalize negotiations with Geary and have a contract to vote on by the next school board meeting on Monday, Sept. 23, 2013.