001Thank you. Hi. The constituent school committee is committed to providing an environment of respect during meetings. We ask all members to interact in a polite manner even when there is disagreement. We value the participation of our community and want all participants, including marginalized and minoritized communities, to feel welcomed and respected. We ask our committee members and all who participate to commit to these standards to support and respect our community. Okay, with that said, we will call I will call the September 16, 2025 school committee meeting to order at 6:01 p.m. and see we'll start in tonight with our public comment. Do we have any hands raised remotely or anyone in person who would like to come up to the table? Not seeing anyone remote or in person here. Okay. All right. Which is new business
002here. Right. We're going to move forward with new business here before we do so in appointing our interim superintendent. Um first I just like to read um our statement here. Uh the Situit School Committee would like to thank Superintendent Burkehead for his leadership in our district through the CO 19 pandemic. uh through numerous capital and operational improvements in laying the foundation for future academic success for our students upon which we are excited to continue and build. Mr. Burkehead's retirement also coincides with a planned medical leave or surgery which will allow the school committee to appoint an interim superintendent uh at our meeting tonight. Um and this is to ensure a smooth leadership transition and um we will then begin a search in the coming months for um a more permanent uh superintendent in going forward.
003Um so now uh we'll take up the opportunity for our committee to discuss appointing the interim superintendent that position. Um, actually one thing before we do. So, Miss Limb has a correction from our Monday, >> yesterday's update. >> Yesterday update, >> I neglected to mention the boys golf team >> is undefeated. They're seven and0. >> I had um what you might call a brain fart where I saw a low score and thought, "Oh my god, they keep losing." But they keep winning. So, so I apologize. Um, and I hope they keep up the good good work. So, >> thank you for the update. >> Everyone's off to amazing season across the board. I know clubs are at it at the high school and middle school and >> youth sports are out there and everyone's enjoying
004Yes. >> a wonderful September. So, >> all right. So, um, let's take up our new business here. Appointing our interim superintendent. Um, I will kind of open it up to the committee for discussion before we take a vote. Um, does anyone want to start? >> Um, I can start. I think um just to state kind of the obvious, we have two really um very highly qualified candidates um who are here with us tonight who um both have the um qualifications and also the skills to take on the role. So we're starting from a place of being I think very fortunate um in a time like this that we do have people who know you know what we're up to and have been already leading in various capacities. So, I think that's the first thing to
005recognize. Um, that being Ryan Lynch, our assistant superintendent, and Todd Rob, our director of business and finance. Um, so to me, it's, you know, that's kind of where we're starting from. And then I think, you know, in terms of the official hiring timeline, my understanding is that these things typically kick off in the winter with, you know, rounds of listening sessions and things like that after which we, you know, open up applications and things. So in some ways like it's going to be here before we know it. It's a fast moving situation I think. Um and so I think you know we're thinking about a relatively short amount of time um for this interim role. Um so it's not like you know a forever situation although whichever candidate was in it that they could go
006on and apply and things like that you know we know that is true. Um, and I guess just thinking about what we have going on in the district, you know, September we have a lot that's already in motion. Um, there's, you know, the new school stuff ongoing. We have, um, a lot of curriculum work that we started under Mr. Lynch's leadership last year that feels really like new and still moving and kind of fragile in some ways to me. Um we have our you know our new website and app that is still you know um taking life as we speak I think um you know and then the typical just everyday runings of you know schools. I know we've talked a little bit about some goals that we have potentially rethinking um and bringing a
007finer point to the strategic plan that we've been working under which is nearing the end of its life anyhow. Um, so you know, those are just what I've been thinking in terms of what this person would need to take. >> No, I 100% agree what Maria said about our um assistant super and business director. Um it's >> um >> not an easy decision, but >> yeah. No, I would echo I think that um we are lucky to have Ryan and Tom as well. I don't know how like do we ask them if they're interested in doing it. Um I think we probably would need to do that. Um I think again we are lucky that we have their experience and expertise and so on. So um >> we need a motion that we need But
008I don't know. Do we do we formally ask >> take a motion for a vote for appointing our interim superintendent? >> I'm asking for a motion for a vote for interim superintendent. >> Are you asking for a motion? >> Yes. >> Um I think for me I thought about this a lot over the past several days. Um it comes down to um the fact that while we are choosing one of these people to take this role, the jobs that they are already doing have to keep being done and how we will be able to replace them in the you know in the case that one of them is moved into the interim role. >> Um and I mean this in the nicest kindest way possible, but it feels to me as though Tom is a
009little bit more replaceable um in that I do honestly mean this in the nicest way only because you know bringing in somebody on a short-term like quick you got to learn this to do the budget and finance stuff is a little bit more clear-cut than bringing in somebody who is going to step into the work Ryan has just started which is a lot of the curriculum work that just feels like fragile to me I don't know so that is where I have been thinking um just in terms of like we're needing to do this obviously quite quickly and to me it feels as though Ryan is a little bit more irreplace a little bit more irreplaceable >> I wouldn't use those terms but >> endearment >> I would and also I guess for this discussion
010is is this interim position mean that they're relieved of their existing duties and only becoming the super or is are they potentially taking a dual role. >> I think it depends on which role which person is appointed as difficult. >> So to so I guess to to use different language perhaps Tom has the better ability to be able to manage two roles. these two roles. I think that there is a lot of overlap of what Tom has been doing potentially. >> Or I think it's easier to hire someone on a short term to come in and do some of the work Tom has been doing in his role in business and finance and get up to speed more quickly than it is to post for an interim assistant superintendent to work on some of the
011current stuff that Ryan has been working on. >> I would agree with that. I think Ryan's been working hard to >> I just don't want to immerse himself within the specific needs of Situit and working with department chairs and principles and you know he spent the last year >> doing in-depth work in our district that to bring in someone as a assistant superintendent would be immersing himself from scratch in that work. >> That sounds like a deeper dive than someone sort of coming in with a budget lens, which is what Maria is saying. So, I would concur with Maria on that point. Also think Tom's been exemplary in managing the um needs of the school building project as him and I have been partners in that. Uh Janice has been there with us as well.
012So, um, and that project is at such a crucial point right now that it's it's like an awkward point where it's we're not making certain decisions, but I think he's been really um just when we've needed leadership there, he's really been someone who's been able to direct the district in a very clear and concise way that um has just been Excellent. Boots on the ground like at Herly with the safety of the kids and teachers and everyone in mind you know as we start to bring in equipment and you know actually bring you know bring it to life. I think that's really important to have someone who knows construction projects and just that's just the experience of that and to me that that makes makes an easy decision in this moment. I I wouldn't worry
013about um Ryan getting bogged down by some of the more operational aspects of the interim role. Um, and that if you were trying to balance keeping the curriculum stuff moving, curriculum instruction stuff, that is really the heart of what we've been working so hard towards, you know, the curriculum planning that Ryan has begun and some of the, you know, all the the PD work that he leads. Like, if we're if we drop that ball, we're in pretty big trouble, I would say. I just think we want someone who is um we want Ryan's focus and kind of I would just hate to shake that foundation I guess is how I feel. I'm a little worried just because I know also in the interim super role it is that you know school building projects a lot
014of work but also it's like every little thing that pops up that we're not even seeing yet. Um and those things can be timeconuming. That said, I don't know if I can or should say this, but I wonder if as we're thinking in the next part when we talk about um about uh compensation. >> Okay, I will not talk about that. >> No, I No, I I agree. I just I would just want to make sure that we um I guess as you guys as you just I guess uh expounded on I I fully support Tom. I just want to make sure that um that we have an understanding of what the expectation of the interimm is. That's I think that Tom would satisfy that perfectly. Again, I think that he's I think that Tom
015has been he's been has been doing a lot of kind of dual roles some to some degree. >> Yeah, >> would be easy. >> And this would be through the end of the fiscal year, June 30th, correct? The interim. >> Yeah. >> And then we would go through the hiring process which we would hopefully be done by March roughly something like that, right? April >> and have that new contract start July one, which I think is >> pretty desirable for someone who's making that switch from wherever they're coming, whether it's internal or external. Yeah. To make that switch, right? I mean, you theoretically this would be effective September 17th through the end of the Yeah. End of the fiscal year school year. June 30th. You still need a motion or do we already make the
016motion? >> I know she needs a motion. I'll make the motion. >> Um I make a motion that we um approve Tom Rob as the interim superintendent. >> Second any other discussion? >> I will add one point of discussion that I did carry. was unable to join us this evening, but um was in support of this as well and concurred on many of the points made here um when her and I discussed different things too. So, um that's all there was a second. >> Yep. Um all in favor I Thank you. >> Thank you. >> All right. >> I'll avoid the drama of moving my seat. >> All right. Um, now I need a motion to enter executive session. >> Uh, make a motion to exit open session at that clock is not working. >>
017No, it's not. >> It's my first time. >> Yeah. At 6:15. Um for reason number two, >> we need to read what reason number two is >> which is to conduct strategy session in preparation for negotiations for non-UN personnel. >> Second. All in favor? >> I >> Yes. Brand lady. Yes. >> All right.