Rochester, N.Y., Schools Chief Picked for Top Job in Boston

The Boston school board is expected this week to formally tap Manuel J. Rivera, the Rochester, N.Y., schools chief, as the district’s next superintendent, a move many hope will shift the focus from a difficult search process to planning for the city’s children.

At its Oct. 4 meeting, the Boston School Committee was scheduled to hear—and was widely expected to accept—its search committee’s unanimous recommendation to hire Mr. Rivera, who would be the district’s first Hispanic leader. The co-chairs of the committee would then begin negotiating a contract, which would need school board approval.

Mayor Thomas M. Menino, who appoints Boston’s school board and counts the superintendent among his Cabinet members, announced on Sept. 22 that Mr. Rivera was the search committee’s choice to succeed Thomas W. Payzant, who retired in June after nearly 11 years. In Rochester the same day, Mr. Rivera announced his decision to leave for...