Lynn School Committee Appoints Molly Cohen Interim Superintendent, Approves 18‑Month Contract

The Lynn School Committee voted unanimously to appoint Molly Cohen as interim superintendent and approved an 18‑month contract covering the remainder of this school year and the following school year, the committee said at a special meeting.

The vote came after a brief open-session motion to hire Cohen, a subsequent executive‑session discussion under state law on contract negotiations for nonunion personnel, and a public roll‑call vote to ratify the contract. The statute cited by the committee for the executive‑session discussion was MGL c. 30A, §21(a)(2), which authorizes strategy sessions in preparation for collective bargaining or contract negotiations.

A motion to hire Cohen was made and seconded in open session; the committee took a roll‑call vote and all members present voted yes. The committee then moved into executive session under MGL c. 30A, §21(a)(2) “to conduct strategy in preparation for contract negotiations with nonunion personnel, for the interim superintendent of schools,” and returned to public session to vote to approve the contract negotiated in executive session. The contract length was stated as one and a half years — described by the committee as the remainder of this school year and the following school year. The committee announced the vote as unanimous.

Molly Cohen, who was appointed interim superintendent, addressed the committee after the vote. She said, “I am truly humbled by the magnitude of this role and deeply grateful to continue to work with the extraordinary educators, staff, families, and students.” She added she was “fully prepared to lead with equity, excellence, and purpose grounded in our district strategic plan and core values.”

The meeting record shows the following members participated in the roll calls approving the appointment and the contract: Member Castellanos, Member Dugan, Member Gately, Member Pena, Member Reid, Member Satterwhite, and Mayor Nicholson. No salary, budgetary funding source, or other contract financial terms were specified on the public record during the meeting.

There was no additional substantive discussion recorded about alternative candidates, contract salary, or implementation details during the portions of the meeting included in the public transcript. The committee closed the meeting after the votes and Cohen’s remarks.