Norwood school committee appoints Catherine (Kate) Davey as director of student services

The Norwood School Committee voted unanimously Wednesday to appoint Catherine (Kate) Davey as the district’s director of student services, formalizing a role she has held on an interim basis.

Superintendent Tim Luff recommended Davey’s permanent appointment after a six-month interim period and consultations with union leaders, parent groups and administrators. “She has absolutely knocked it out of the park,” Luff said, asking the committee to approve the hire in open session after an executive-session review.

A committee member moved to approve the appointment; Joan seconded. The chair polled members individually. According to the roll call in open session, Theresa, Judith, Joan, Anne Marie and the chair voted yes and the motion passed unanimously.

Some committee members used the discussion to request clearer communications about the personnel process. One member said the full public search the committee had previously discussed was not followed this time and urged that future processes match prior commitments. Luff said he believed keeping the role internal was appropriate in this case because Davey knew Norwood’s systems and could step into the position immediately; he asked for the committee’s flexibility.

The appointment will take effect immediately; the committee did not record any conditions or amendments to the hire during the open-session vote.

The committee’s action was limited to the director-of-student-services appointment; Luff clarified that principals’ hiring and transfers are handled under the superintendent’s authority rather than as a committee vote, a distinction several members reiterated during discussion.