The Methuen School Committee voted to accept the resignation of Superintendent Dr. Quang during its Oct. 27 workshop session and began planning a nationwide search for her replacement.

The motion to accept the resignation was made by Member DiZaglio and seconded by Member Shabiliya; the committee then took a roll-call vote. Member DiZaglio, Member Donovan, Member Keegan, Member Trabile, Member Ouellette and Mayor Beauregard voted yes; Member Maxwell voted no. The motion carried and the resignation was accepted.

Members spent significant time discussing the search process, repeatedly saying a national search with an outside consulting firm was the preferred option. Member Willett said he wanted "a competent outside consulting firm" and emphasized the need for a process that would be “devoid of internal politics.” One committee member estimated consultant costs in the range of $30,000 to $40,000 and asked that the district obtain multiple quotes before committing funds.

Committee members asked that the consultant-led process include broad stakeholder engagement. Member Willett and others said the city council, the mayor, parents and incoming school committee members should be involved; Member Maxwell asked that newly elected members be included in any interviews. Several members said the next school committee will formally select the new superintendent, so the current committee's role is to "set the table" for a search that may take months.

The committee directed staff to solicit additional proposals from firms and to place consultant proposals and a vote to allocate funds on the next meeting agenda. No final contract or vendor was selected at the Oct. 27 meeting.

The committee characterized this as an initial planning step rather than the final hiring decision and said it would continue the process after collecting quotes and outlining vendor services.