AMHERST — Amherst’s last Select Board chairman, and a long-tenured school Information Systems department employee, will become the finance director for the Amherst and Amherst-Pelham regional schools.
Douglas Slaughter, of Dwight Circle, was unanimously appointed to the position by the regional and Union 26 school committees Monday. Slaughter will take on the position being vacated by Sean Mangano, who announced in September his departure from the district where he has been employed since 2010, becoming finance director in 2014.
Morris said six candidates applied and were interviewed for the position, with a six-member committee recommending Slaughter.
Slaughter’s experience includes worked closely with the human resources and the business office, handling both payroll and student information software systems and completing financial and personnel reports the districts use and that are required by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, Morris said.
“Given his background, experience and dedication, I believe his appointment will be a benefit to the districts,” Morris said.
While Slaughter is not yet licensed as a school business administrator, Morris expects that to happen by the end of January, and a waiver is already in place for him that runs through next June.
Amherst representative Peter Demling said Slaughter has a hard-earned reputation for public service. In addition to his time on the Select Board, Slaughter was on the Finance Committee and the Pioneer Valley Transit Authority’s advisory board, and is currently chairman of the town’s Licensing Commission. He served as a database analyst and assistant director with the Information Systems department.
Slaughter told the committee he is ready to step into the new role. “I appreciate the opportunity to continue to serve the district in this way,” Slaughter said.
Though Mangano is leaving, he has offered to provide assistance to Slaughter to ensure a smooth transition.
Meantime, Mangano has been the capital projects manager for the town since February, but Slaughter will not fill that role. Town Manager Paul Bockelman said the responsibility for capital planning will revert back to Comptroller and Acting Finance Director Sonia Aldrich.
Scott Merzbach can be reached at smerzbach@gazettenet.com.
