Lynn School Committee unanimously hires Molly Cohen as interim superintendent, approves 18-month contract

The Lynn School Committee on Thursday voted unanimously to hire Molly Cohen as interim superintendent and approved an interim contract lasting a year and a half.

The committee took the personnel vote in open session after briefly meeting in executive session to conduct strategy and preparation for contract negotiations. The executive-session motion cited Massachusetts General Laws, chapter 30A, Section 21(a)(2), the committee said.

The motion to hire Cohen was made and seconded; a roll call recorded affirmative votes from Member Castellanos, Member Dugan, Member Gately, Member Pena, Member Reid, Member Satterwhite and Mayor Nicholson. After the executive session, the committee moved in open session to approve the contract covering the remainder of the current school year and the following school year; the same members voted to approve that action.

Molly Cohen offered brief remarks after the vote, thanking the mayor, committee members, educators, staff, families and students. "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," Cohen said. She said she is "fully prepared to lead with equity, excellence, and purpose grounded in our district strategic plan and core values."

The committee did not provide further public details in the meeting about contract salary, benefits or other financial terms. Committee members did not identify individual movers or seconders by full name on the public record beyond the roll-call responses; the meeting record shows unanimous approval of both the hiring motion and the subsequent contract vote.

The committee opened the special meeting with a roll call, recessed to executive session for contract negotiations under M.G.L. c.30A, §21(a)(2), then returned to open session to vote on the contract. Following Cohen's remarks the meeting was adjourned.