The committee authorized the search process to fill the assistant superintendent position following an announced retirement.

Nut graf: The assistant superintendent role — described as a broad, operational position that includes curriculum, grants and cross-district coordination — will be filled through a school-committee-led search with a stakeholder-driven screening committee and a multi-step interview timeline.

Superintendent Dan Bauer notified the committee that Assistant Superintendent Mary Warmers intends to retire and described the proposed search process. The district received a strong applicant pool (more than 32 applicants at the time of the meeting); the superintendent presented a proposed search-committee composition and named Julie Pasternak and Christina Ryan to chair the initial screening committee. The initial screening is scheduled for Jan. 22–23, with the screening committee to forward three finalists for a second round of interviews, reference checks and final school-committee consideration in February (the superintendent proposed Feb. 10 or Feb. 24 depending on scheduling).

A committee motion to proceed with the search passed unanimously. Members emphasized the importance of documenting the assistant superintendent’s varied duties and requested a survey of desired qualifications to guide candidate evaluation and ensure a smooth transition.