EASTHAMPTON — The search for a permanent superintendent is kicking off in Easthampton, and the School Committee anticipates announcing a job offer as early as December.

At a School Committee meeting on Tuesday night, committee chair Laura Scott said that the district was “told in no uncertain terms” that they would be unable to receive an additional waiver for Interim Superintendent Maureen Binienda, who has been serving under a state program allowing retired superintendents to receive waivers allowing them to come out of retirement on an interim basis when no other viable candidates are available to a district. Binienda has received two such waivers for this school year and the previous year.

“So, the search is beginning in earnest,” Scott said.

Job postings for the permanent position went live this month, and the School Committee is now embarking on the creation of a Superintendent Search Committee to find the district’s next leader.

The committee will comprise 10 voting members, including three parent volunteers, three staff volunteers, one Easthampton High School student volunteer and three administrative representatives. Of the parent and staff volunteers, one will be chosen from each Easthampton Public School — Mountain View Elementary School, Mountain View Middle School, and Easthampton High School. Preference will be given for one parent of a special education student and one special education staff member, at any grade level.

Search Committee members will be required to attend meetings on Oct. 23, 24, 28, 29 and 30, as well as Nov. 1 and 4. There is a brief application on the district website for those interested in serving on the Search Committee.

The School Committee will select members of the Search Committee at their next public meeting on Oct. 8. Applicants are encouraged to attend this meeting, but attendance is not required.

Deliberations for the selection of a permanent superintendent will take place at the School Committee’s Dec. 17 meeting. If these deliberations take longer than expected, they will continue in a Dec. 18 meeting.

“So Dec. 17th slash 18th you can expect to have an announcement pending successful contract negotiations,” said Scott, noting that the committee anticipates selecting a new permanent superintendent “just in time for the holidays.”

Alexa Lewis can be reached at alewis@gazettenet.com.