DEERFIELD — Darius Modestow has had the word “interim” dropped from his job title after the Frontier Regional and Union 38 school committees opted Tuesday to suspend its search and appoint Modestow the superintendent of schools.
Following the unanimous votes, the former Frontier Regional School principal will start a five-year term pending successful contract negotiations.
Modestow, 46, thanked members of both committees for the privilege, and he advocated for continued transparency and teamwork to help make the school district the best it can be.
Ken Cuddeback of Deerfield, chairman of the Union 38 committee, said administrators have praised Modestow.
“I’ve found his work to be very good,” he said before voicing his support to suspend the search.
Each of the committees voted separately to suspend the search and appoint Modestow.
The meeting’s agenda included discussion of a three-year contract for Modestow, but the motion’s language was changed after Frontier Regional School Committee member Philip Kantor of Conway suggested making it five years so any renegotiations would not conflict with teacher contract negotiations in three years.
Modestow has served as Lynn Carey’s interim replacement since May, when the committees voted to proceed with an internal job posting for the position. Carey stepped down as superintendent on June 30, having been on the job two years, and George Lanides took over for Modestow as Frontier Regional School principal. Modestow had been nominated for the superintendent job in a letter Union 38 and Frontier Regional District administrators sent to school committee members.
“As members of the district administrative team, we have the highest confidence in Darius Modestow, whose leadership at Frontier Regional School reflects his exceptional skills as an administrator,” the letter stated. “A consistently strong leader, Mr. Modestow has maintained the highest standards of professional excellence at Frontier Regional, honoring diverse opinions, building consensus and inspiring everyone who works in the district.”
The Frontier and Union 38 superintendent oversees independent town elementary schools in Conway, Deerfield, Sunderland and Whately, and grades 7 through 12 in the four towns.