Wearham honors long‑serving staff; committee reorganizes leadership

Wearham School Committee members and district leaders opened their May 7 meeting by recognizing dozens of long‑serving staff and retirees before turning to routine board business and leadership elections.

Superintendent Matthew Andrea began the evening by celebrating staff who have served 20 or 30 years and several retirees, praising their contributions to students and the community. Speakers singled out individual honorees — including classroom teachers, paraprofessionals, transportation staff and custodial staff — for decades of service. “Congratulations to all of our staff who will be recognized this evening,” Andrea said at the event’s start.

After the recognition program, the public meeting convened and the committee completed its annual reorganization. A motion to re‑nominate Jeff Swat as chair carried on a voice vote; the committee then approved Kevin Bjali as vice chair and Joyce Bakyaki as secretary. The board also assigned payroll and alternate payment authorizations to the chair, vice chair and secretary to maintain continuity for warrants and payroll processing.

The committee then proceeded through routine business: public participation (none), a “good news” segment that included athletic and accreditation updates, and approval of meeting minutes in split bundles following a member’s request to abstain on minutes from sessions they had not attended.

What’s next: The committee welcomed newly re‑elected members and continues its regular calendar of meetings and committee work. Administrators and honorees will be recognized publicly on district channels.

Speakers (selected): Matthew Andrea (superintendent); Chair (committee leader).