AMHERST — Just minutes into Eric Nakajima’s first meeting as a member of the Amherst-Pelham Regional School Committee Tuesday, his fellow board members voted unanimously to appoint the Amherst resident as chairman.
Nakajima’s assignment as chairman came as the Regional and Union 26 school committees met jointly to consider several top-level leadership matters — including appointing Michael Morris as interim superintendent for the rest of the school year — following the August departure of former superintendent Maria Geryk.
The committees had been unable to meet to appoint an interim superintendent and chart a path forward to find a permanent one because of several committee vacancies, including the one Nakajima filled earlier this month.
Meantime, Union 26 voted to appoint Anastasia Ordonez of Amherst to chair that committee. Union 26 is made up of members of the Amherst and Pelham local school committees, which govern the elementary schools.
The Union 26 committee meets jointly with the regional committee, which governs the regional high school and middle school, to consider matters related to the superintendent. Historically, one superintendent has served the regional schools and the Amherst and Pelham elementary schools.
Each committee voted unanimously Tuesday to appoint Morris as interim superintendent for the remainder of the school year. Morris most recently served as assistant superintendent and since Geryk’s departure has been filling the top job as acting superintendent.
He has worked for the district for 16 years including as an elementary school teacher, principal and director of evaluation. He has a doctoral degree from Boston College.
An advisory committee of school board members had been assembled recently to consider people to fill the yearlong role. After combing through lists of retired superintendents and contacting those people, along with some other potential applicants, the committee only heard from two people interested in the interim job, according to member Emily Marriott. Those two people were not made public Tuesday.
Based on the testimony of several committee members, Morris enjoys wide support among board members, parents, teachers and staff.
Pelham member Trevor Baptiste said in his unofficial polling of the school community, he found “overwhelming” support for Morris’ leadership.
Amherst member Katherine Appy said she, too, has heard positive things about Morris. Plus, she said his experience in the district is a vital strength. “I think continuity is important,” she said.
Morris said he’s been encouraged by school committee members reaching out to him, which helps build a healthy professional relationship.
“There’s a partnership that happens not just on Tuesday nights,” he said.
Paul Wiley, an educator with 36 years experience, said he would assist Morris’ administration with coaching and professional development. Wiley served as a Crocker Farm principal and is now a lead facilitator with the National Institute of School Leadership.
Kathryn Mazur, head of human resources at the school district, instructed the committee on what to consider in searching for a permanent superintendent. That person would start work next school year.
She provided two general options: to hire a consultant to perform the search or for the committees to work in conjunction with district staff to perform the search themselves. Over the last 25 years, each superintendent has been hired with the help of a search firm, according to Mazur.
The cost of a consultant search is estimated to be between $28,500 and $39,500. A district search would cost $14,000 to $17,000, according to Mazur.
Firms often have lists of potential applicants and have a national reach, she said.
The committees each voted unanimously to instruct Mazur to write a request for proposals for a national firm to conduct a search for superintendent candidates, keeping in mind the district’s mission: “the academic achievement of every student learning in a system dedicated to social justice and multiculturalism.”
When the committees meet again, they will review and approve the request for proposals. It will then be posted in order to solicit bids for the superintendent search process.
Mazur forecasts that the consultant will be selected in November. Forums with staff and the community would be held in November or December to hear what is desired in a superintendent. Interviews would begin in February and a selection would be announced in April.
Chris Lindahl can be reached at clindahl@gazettenet.com