Last modified: Wednesday, April 12, 2006 2:00 AM EDT Superintendent named By RICK FOSTER / SUN CHRONICLE STAFF ATTLEBORO -- Pia Durkin, a school reform specialist and former superintendent, was the unanimous choice of the school committee Tuesday to take over as the city's top school administrator from the retiring Joel Lovering. Lovering plans to retire in June. Durkin was chosen from among four candidates presented to the committee by a 15-member screening committee. School board members contacted Durkin by phone Tuesday and members said they intend to begin the process of negotiating a contract in the near future. Durkin's selection came following a surprise announcement that one of the four finalists had accepted a superintendent's position elsewhere and that another had taken himself out of the running. Nancy Lane, the current assistant superintendent in Brookline, has accepted the job as school superintendent in Douglas, according to search consultant Richard Warren. Warren aided the school committee in recruiting applicants. In addition, Donald Yeoman, Lincolnwood District 74 superintendent in Lincolnwood, Ill., said he would decline the Attleboro position if offered at this time. Warren said that while Yeoman felt satisfied about some aspects of the Attleboro job, he had questions about others. Durkin received five votes in an initial roll call, with committee member Fran Zito casting the deciding vote. Frank D'Agostino placed Yeoman's name in nomination, while Helen Johnson nominated former Miami Dade County Deputy Superintendent Sonia Diaz. The committee later made the vote unanimous. Committee Chairwoman Robbie Wuilleumier said she found Yeoman's withdrawal `` disappointing.'' D'Agostino remarked publicly that Yeoman had been given a copy of Mayor Kevin Dumas's inauguration speech Monday, and that Yeoman marked passages with a highlight pencil. D'Agostino refused to elaborate, but his remarks seemed to echo complaints by some that the mayor gave short shrift to education in his speech. When asked, D'Agostino would not say whether he thought the Illinois educator declined the job because of the mayor's remarks. Yeoman, reached at home Tuesday night, acknowledged reading the speech and said he was looking for evidence of support for public schools and education funding from various elected officials. He said he `` still had some questions'' and that he did not want to delay the school committee's selection process. `` I met the mayor,'' said Yeoman. `` He seemed to be a very nice fellow, very congenial.'' Yeoman said he had a `` wonderful day'' touring Attleboro schools and that while he observed problems with some school buildings, he assessed the school district as `` primed and ready to accept strong leadership to help children succeed.'' Yeoman, in his presentation to the committee Monday night, laid heavy emphasis on the need for all parties -- including the schools, the mayor, other public officials and private business -- to place a high priority on improving performance. The Illinois resident is also a finalist for other superintendent positions in Illinois and Massachusetts. Durkin, currently principal associate for District Redesign at the Annenberg Institute for School Reform in Providence, drew high marks for her communication skills, leadership qualities and knowledge of school reform. Board member Jane Larkin called Durkin `` approachable and engaging,'' and remarked on her experience in helping communities across the country reorganize their schools. She said Durkin was also strong in enunciating the belief that the schools' mission must be clear to everyone in the organization. School committee member Jackie Romaniecki said she saw strong budget experience in Durkin's background, while member Robert Hill said she appeared to be a `` very strong leader'' and at the same time seemed to have the ability to engage many stakeholders to resolve complex problems. Diaz also drew praise for her leadership skills and commitment to maintaining visibility as a school leader. Durkin served briefly as superintendent of schools in Narragansett, R.I., and has held held major administrative positions dealing with special education in Boston, Providence and New York City. In her present job, Durkin is responsible for national implementation of district redesign, including high school reform, accountability and resource alignment. She heads a national work group on unifying district efforts in general and special education. Durkin holds a doctorate from New York University.