News Release Archive
EDUCATION/CULTURE--SCHOOL BOARD SUPERINTENDENT HIRED ------------------------------------------------------------ A well-known educator, senior administrator and community leader has been hired as superintendent for the new Cape Breton-Victoria Regional School Board. Dr. Hayes MacNeil, current superintendent of the Cape Breton district school board, will be on the job within 10 days, providing the leadership to amalgamate the Cape Breton and Northside-Victoria school boards by the target date of April 1. Rene Patry, who chairs the local amalgamation committee and the selection committee, said, "Dr. MacNeil knows the people, the communities and schools in both districts very well. Most important, whether he is in the classroom or the boardroom, he always thinks of students first." Dr. MacNeil has 32 years of experience within the Cape Breton region, teaching at every level of school, from elementary through to university. He quickly advanced into supervisory and senior administrative positions, bringing him to his current appointment in 1993 as superintendent of schools for the Cape Breton district. Dr. MacNeil completed his Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Education at St. Francis Xavier University. He then went on to complete his Doctor of Education at the University of Tennessee. Dr. MacNeil has always been an active community volunteer, from coaching sports, to serving on the UCCB and Nova Scotia School Athletic Foundation boards of directors, to serving as educational co-ordinator for the Police Club building campaign. In his application letter, Dr. MacNeil said: "What these experiences have taught me is that education is about development -- the development of children. I think we can make a difference, and after 32 years, I am optimistic that we can improve education even in tough times." Dr. MacNeil was selected following a rigorous screening process, being used to hire all superintendents. Advertisements were placed nationally, applicants were short-listed and candidates were interviewed by a committee with representatives from the local amalgamation committee and the Department of Education and Culture. Interview questions focused on leadership and management, operational management, communications and interpersonal skills, knowledge and background in educational issues, and personal and professional adaptiveness. -30- Contact: Rene Patry 902-563-2080 trp Feb. 01, 1996 - 12:05 p.m.