New Bedford 360 - http://www.newbedford360.com/articles
School Committee Names Dr. Portia S. Bonner Next Superintendent of New Bedford Public Schools
http://www.newbedford360.com/articles/articles/453/1/School-Committee-Names-Dr-Portia-S-Bonner-Next-Superintendent-of-New-Bedford-Public-Schools/Page1.html
Elizabeth Treadup (Mayor's Office)
 
By Elizabeth Treadup (Mayor's Office)
Published on 03/24/2008
 
New Bedford, Massachusetts - The New Bedford School Committee concluded its nationwide search for a new Superintendent of New Bedford Public Schools at an early morning meeting today at the Keith Middle School.  All seven members of the New Bedford School Committee unanimously voted to offer Dr. Portia Selene Bonner, the position of Superintendent of New Bedford Public Schools.  Dr. Bonner is currently serving as Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum & Instruction at Hamden Public Schools in Hamden, Connecticut.
School Committee announced today that Dr. Bonner has accepted offer

New Bedford, Massachusetts- The New Bedford School Committee concluded its nationwide search for a new Superintendent of New Bedford Public Schools at an early morning meeting today at the Keith Middle School.  All seven members of the New Bedford School Committee unanimously voted to offer Dr. Portia Selene Bonner, the position of Superintendent of New Bedford Public Schools.  Dr. Bonner is currently serving as Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum & Instruction at Hamden Public Schools in Hamden, Connecticut. 

Chairman of the New Bedford School Committee, Mayor Scott W. Lang, who led the open, public process that yielded three highly qualified finalists called Dr. Bonner “tremendously impressive” and cited her ability to understand the issues facing urban school districts and her experience working through those problems as reasons why she was selected for the position. 

After current New Bedford Public Schools Superintendent Michael E. Longo announced his plans to retire at the close of the 2007-2008 school year last June, the New Bedford School Committee launched a nationwide search for the next Superintendent.  The search process included a strong public input component, which consisted of public forums, focus groups, and an online survey as well as the inclusion of community members on the final interview panel.

From an initial pool of 17 applicants, the School Committee selected three finalists including Dr. Bonner, Dr. Alberto Rodriguez, Principal of Westland Hialeah High School in Hialeah, Florida and Dr. Chris Augusta Scott, Superintendent of Norfolk Public Schools in Norfolk, Massachusetts.

Each of these three candidates spent time in New Bedford becoming familiar with the school district, meeting with school staff, system administrators and community leaders.  In addition, members of the New Bedford School Committee participated in site visits to each of the finalists’ school districts where they heard firsthand from teachers, parents and school committee members about the candidates’ leadership abilities and the successful strategies each has implemented. 

The School Committee announced today that Dr. Bonner has accepted its offer and she is expected to assume the role of Superintendent of New Bedford Public Schools as of July 1, 2008.  The next meeting of the New Bedford School Committee will be tomorrow evening, March 25, 2008 at 7:00 p.m. at the Keith Middle School and Dr. Bonner is anticipated to attend to address the committee formally.