AMHERST - The public will be able to comment on the departure of Superintendent of Schools Alberto Rodriguez at the Regional School Committee meeting tonight.

Although the meeting starts at 6:30 p.m. at Town Hall, at least the first hour will be devoted to a report from consultant Barry Beers about the Regional Middle School, said Chairman Farshid Hajir. Afterwards, at about 7:30, Hajir will open the meeting to public comment.

The meeting will be televised live on ACTV.

Hajir declined to discuss the committee's financial settlement with Rodriguez Tuesday morning, pending a go-ahead from its attorney. But he said he hoped to get that approval by tonight.

"The School Committee has a duty to taxpayers to reveal any financial information that the community is legally entitled to know," he said.

Maria Geryk is now acting superintendent, the same role she played for four months a year ago. Hajir was scheduled to meet with her at 10 a.m. today, and at 11 he was scheduled to meet with school staff.

"I want to reassure them that we're committed to doing what's proper to bring stability to the district and support them in all the initiatives in which they have been engaged," he said.