MONTAGUE — Tari Thomas, former superintendent of the Ralph C. Mahar Regional and Union 73 school districts, has been tapped for the interim superintendent position at the Gill-Montague Regional School District, pending successful contract negotiations and reference checks.

Thomas, an Amherst resident, alongside former Monson Public Schools interim Superintendent Roland Joyal Jr. and South Hadley Public Schools interim Superintendent Mark McLaughlin, interviewed with the Gill-Montague School Committee Thursday evening.

This interim position will fill the superintendent role for one year as current Superintendent Brian Beck is leaving on June 30. On May 13, Beck, who has been superintendent since July 2020, announced his decision to the School Committee.

Each candidate for interim superintendent was given 45 minutes to answer a set of nine pre-written questions about their background in serving in an interim capacity, their entry plans for the district, how they would involve themselves with the school community and committee, and their budget development experience, among other topics.

Candidates were selected with help from the Massachusetts Association of School Committees (MASC), with Field Director Liz Lafond posting the interim position online.

Thomas was the first candidate to interview, followed by Joyal and McLaughlin, with deliberations beginning just after 8:40 p.m. Committee members listed their preferences for the three candidates from first to last, with the order largely being Thomas, McLaughlin, then Joyal.

While committee members expressed that all three candidates are experienced leaders who could do the job, what separated Thomas was her superintendent experience at Mahar from 2012 to 2020, and at White Mountains School Administrative Unit 35 in Franconia, New Hampshire from 2020 to 2022 as an interim superintendent during the pandemic. Her current role as a leadership coach for superintendents at the Massachusetts Association of School Superintendents was also of interest to committee members.

Moreover, members appreciated Thomas’ lively personality and her direct answers to questions that outlined her interest in paying keen attention to student and staff well-being, as well as her time management and leadership skills.

“I really appreciated the efficiency and the effectiveness that Tari Thomas brought to us,” committee member Steve Ellis said. “She started with the kids and understanding that it is the proper management, engagement and treatment of staff that leads to the best possible outcomes for kids.”

Member Heather Katsoulis said while she appreciated the thoughtfulness of McLaughlin in his interview, Thomas and her approach to school culture and decision-making made her stand out among the three candidates.

“She’s seemed like a strong decision-maker, and clearly able to delegate,” Katsoulis said.

Committee members James DeLorenzo and Cliff Spatcher were the only ones with different preferences. DeLorenzo ranked his preference as McLaughlin, Thomas, then Joyal, and Spatcher preferred Joyal, followed by McLaughlin and Thomas.

Spatcher said he felt Joyal had the strongest interview and Thomas fell short. Specifically, Spatcher said he felt Joyal and McLaughlin had more satisfactory answers than Thomas about ensuring the best education for students with special needs. With respect to Spatcher’s opinion, Ellis noted Thomas’ resume indicated she has experience in program development for students with autism while she was working at Clifford M. Granger Elementary School in Agawam.

During her interview, Thomas described her greatest strengths as being able to connect with people, work collaboratively and listen before making a decision, which she reiterated in answers to questions regarding her district entry plan, best practices for school-community interactions and communication.

“I really honor everybody and what they bring to the table, and how they care about their kids and what’s going to make a difference for their child,” she said. “I really listen and listen some more, and am inclusive of everyone’s voice as far as decision-making and developing action plans.”

Once the vote was taken to offer Thomas the interim superintendent position on the condition of successful contract negotiations and reference checks, another motion was made by Ellis to offer McLaughlin the position in the event that Thomas and the School Committee cannot come to an agreement. Ellis’ motion was also approved.

School Committee Chair Jane Oakes confirmed Friday afternoon that the committee went into executive session to negotiate, but opted to reconvene to negotiate a contract with Thomas as soon as possible, given the hour in which negotiations began Thursday night.

With Beck leaving at the end of the month, Thomas would begin her time at Gill-Montague on July 1, ensuring she could spend the summer making connections with faculty, staff and town officials before next school year starts. During the next school year, a formal search committee with be convened to launch a search for a permanent superintendent, though a timeline is yet to be decided.

Gill-Montague is not the only Franklin County school district in the process of selecting an interim superintendent. The Greenfield School Department is also working with Lafond at MASC to select an interim superintendent, as Superintendent Karin Patenaude announced her resignation, effective July 3. The Greenfield School Committee is interviewing candidates on Saturday, June 14.

Erin-Leigh Hoffman can be reached at ehoffman@recorder.com or 413-930-4231.