MANSFIELD - The school committee Tuesday night chose the town's next school superintendent: Curriculum Director and former high school Principal Brenda Hodges.

School board and screening committee members said Hodges has the endorsements of current Superintendent John Moretti, as well as teachers and parents in town. She also mentored under Moretti.

"I don't think he would endorse her if he didn't think she would do a good job," school committee member Jean Miller said. "He's seen her in action. He's seen her grow, and he wholeheartedly endorses her, and I take him at his word."

The board voted 4-1, with Steven Greenberg opposed, to begin negotiating a superintendent's contract with Hodges, who is in her first year as Mansfield's assistant to the superintendent for curriculum and instruction. She previously was Mansfield High School principal for six years.

The position was advertised with a three-year contract at a salary range of $140,000 to $150,000. The vote came after the two other finalists to succeed Moretti withdrew within the past week to stay in their current districts.

Christopher Hottel is staying in Nashua, N.H., where he had been acting school chief. Susan Skeiber is negotiating a deal to become superintendent in Duxbury, where she is assistant superintendent.

And in another twist, Greenberg said Moretti offered to stay another year in Mansfield if the school committee wanted to launch another search.

Moretti officially retired in October, then became interim superintendent. He will leave on June 30 after 10 years in the post.

Greenberg urged the board to search again because only one of the 24 candidates for the job was a sitting superintendent, much fewer than candidate pools in other towns.

"If we don't try, we won't find out if there's a bigger pool of candidates available," Greenberg said. "We have a shot at being able to attract some really good people."

MICHAEL GELBWASSER can be reached at 508-236-0372 or at mgelbwasser@thesunchronicle.com.