Terranova Named New Cape Tech Superintendent Sanborn To Retire In June

 HARWICH – Cape Cod Regional Technical High School Superintendent-Director Dr. Robert Sanborn has announced that will retire on June 30. Principal William Terranova has been named as Sanborn’s replacement.

The school committee’s executive subcommittee is in the process of developing a strategy for negotiations with Terranova to offer a salary and contract, according to Jill Mullen, administrative assistant at the school. 

Sanborn was out of the office this week and not available for comment.

The transition has been taking shape for some time. Sanborn, in a letter read to the school committee in its May 21 meeting, said his intention was to retire when his current contract ends June 30. 

 Sanborn has worked at the school for 33 years, initially as a business teacher and then as business manager before being appointed superintendent in 2011.

 When issuing his retirement notice, Sanborn offered his opinion that when searching for a new superintendent, the committee should consider internal candidates. In its June 25 meeting, the executive subcommittee discussed what a search would look like. 

 “It was the sense of the executive board to recommend an internal search based on the qualified candidates within the school,” according to the meeting minutes. A few committee members raised issues of transparency and their responsibility to their towns relative to limited choices in an internal search. An external search was estimated to cost between $10,000 and $25,000. 

A vote was held on a motion to conduct an in-house search. Fifteen school committee members were in favor, five members voted no, and two members abstained, according to the minutes.

A search committee was formed and ultimately conducted a two-hour interview with Terranova, unanimously recommending him for the superintendent’s position. 

Terranova was lauded in committee minutes as being a good communicator, having passion for students and the school, fostering positive relationships, having high energy and proven capabilities. The committee voted 18-0 to hire Terranova. 

After teaching at Everett High School, Terranova came to Cape Tech as dean of students in 2005 and was named principal in 2009.