Committee approves $36,750 transfer to cover City Arts and Sciences Academy principal salary through June

The Lynn School Committee on Feb. 27 voted to authorize a transfer of $36,750 from the district's long-term substitute account to the principal salary account to cover the incoming principal of the City Arts and Sciences Academy from April 1 through June 30.

Superintendent staff announced the appointment of Christopher Norkin as principal of the new STEAM-focused City Arts and Sciences Academy, effective April 1. Kevin McHugh, the district's business official, said the position was not funded in the current FY25 budget and requested the short-term transfer to cover the cost through June; the FY26 budget will include the position going forward.

Attorney Greenspan reminded the committee that "the appointment of the principal is within the discretion of the superintendent, but the compensation, by statute, is still set by the committee." The committee discussed salary comparators and the unique grade-span for the new 6'through'8 school configuration; staff said the assigned salary is between the district's middle-school base and the large high-school principal scale.

A roll-call vote followed the motion to transfer $36,750 from account 90841118 (long-term substitute) to account 06541105 (principal salary). Members voting yes included Member Castellanos, Member Dugan, Member Gaitley, Member Pena, Member Reid, Member Satterwhite and Mayor Nicholson. The motion carried and the committee did not enter executive session on compensation as a result of the action.

The committee also heard that the design team for the new school had led a year-long development of the school design and job description, with input from parents, community partners, colleges, teachers, students and alumni; staff said the candidate met multiple items in that job description.