The meeting opened with public comments, including an expression of sadness at the resignations by Ralph Hammond, who also praised Dr. McCandless’s compassionate nature and dedication. Hammond’s remarks led to a call for civility by committee member Christina, who emphasized the importance of refraining from attacking individuals or groups. Another community member, Stephanie, spoke to the need for unity in tackling racial issues within the district. Following these comments, a prepared statement read by a committee member conveyed disappointment over the resignations, and gratitude was expressed for the service rendered by the departing administrators.

The conversation then pivoted to a candid discussion initiated by Jose, who shared his differing perspectives on the approach to supporting diversity and inclusion within the school district. He stressed the importance of addressing bias and discrimination and called for unity to overcome these challenges. Another committee member, Julia, reflected on the situation by hoping for a self-assessment by the committee regarding support for the leaders and the district.

As the meeting progressed, attention shifted to the process of hiring an interim or permanent superintendent. The committee acknowledged the challenges of conducting a search at an inopportune time due to a limited candidate pool. The possibility of utilizing the Massachusetts Association of School Committees (MASC) as a resource for the superintendent search was discussed. Assistant Superintendent Joe offered to serve as interim superintendent to provide stability during the transition. The committee debated various approaches for the superintendent search, referencing past methods and the potential involvement of MASC and subcommittees. Ultimately, the committee voted to accept Joe as interim superintendent and to authorize the chair to negotiate the terms.

The timeline for the superintendent search was considered, with the aim of initiating the process in September and possibly presenting candidates by November. In addition to leadership issues, the committee addressed the availability of papers for the upcoming school committee seats and acknowledged a petition received regarding the Lain program, deciding to revisit this matter at the June meeting.