AMHERST — The school committees charged with selecting an acting superintendent to guide the Amherst, Amherst-Pelham Regional and Pelham public schools during the medical leave being taken by Superintendent Michael Morris are floating eight potential candidates.

At Tuesday’s joint meeting of the Regional and Superintendency Union 26 committees, chaired by Amherst representatives Ben Herrington and Peter Demling, respectively, members put out the names of the individuals they are considering, most of whom already work in the school system.

Each person will have an opportunity to accept or turn down the opportunity and submit a 500-word statement, if interested. The committees anticipate getting feedback from the community on those who might take the job in advance of a follow-up emergency meeting set for Thursday at 7:30 p.m. at the high school library.

In alphabetical order, the individuals being discussed are: Trevor Baptiste, a research scientist and former chairman of the regional committee; Faye Brady, director of special education for the schools; Mary Custard, dean of students for the schools; Miki Gromacki, assistant principal at the high school; Marta Guevara, director of Student & Family Engagement at the ARPS Family Center; Susan Hollins, former Greenfield schools superintendent; Doreen Reid, educational team leader at the middle school; and Douglas Slaughter, the district’s finance chief.

The committees spent nearly three hours on the discussion with Marc Terry, the school attorney, who informed the members that getting an acting superintendent in place is urgent, according to the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, due to hiring and firing decisions, and the student discipline appeals process.

“It’s extremely important that this group decide on someone as acting superintendent, and soon,” Terry said.

The meeting came after an earlier three hours of residents, staff members and others in the community speaking to the committees about the recent allegations of transphobia made against three school counselors at the middle school, outlined in an article in The Graphic school newspaper, and questions about the district’s hiring processes.

A Title IX investigation related to the matter is underway, while the Amherst Pelham Education Association, the union representing teachers, paraeducators and clerical staff, issued a no-confidence vote in Morris and called for the resignation of Doreen Cunningham, the assistant superintendent for Diversity, Equity and Human Resources.

Herrington and Demling indicated that since a Title IX investigation is underway, they would not let that affect their decisions on interim leadership: “We are aware of recent APEA statements regarding district leadership. The matter is already under Title IX investigation by an independent external investigator not affiliated with ARPS, and our School Committees are not making any judgments until the investigation is complete.”

Cunningham, who has been at the center of the controversy because she coordinated the hiring of those counselors and is alleged to have personal connections to them, informed the committees in writing that she would not accept the temporary superintendent role, were it to be offered her.

“I do not feel that it would be in the best interest of the community or myself given the current circumstances,” Cunningham wrote. “I will, of course, continue my work as Assistant Superintendent for Diversity, Equity and Human Resources. I have full confidence in the District leadership team, and we will work together with whomever you appoint to ensure a smooth end to the school year.”

Hiring process

Members of the two committees, representing the four member towns of Amherst, Pelham, Shutesbury and Leverett, had differing views on how to approach the hiring.

Amherst representative Jennifer Shiao said someone is needed who can respond to the Title IX results, has a strong record of support for the LGBTQ+ community and also has good relationships with teachers and students. Those that fit that bill, she said, are Guevara and Alicia Lopez, an English Language Learners teacher at the middle school.

But Demling rebutted Shiao, arguing that no one too close to the middle school situation or teachers should be tabbed.

Herrington put Slaughter’s name out as someone who is even keeled. Amherst representative Allison McDonald, too, mentioned Slaughter. “He’s the first person who comes to mind for me,” McDonald said.

Pelham representative Sarahbess Kenney said Slaughter is familiar to her, and fellow Pelham representative Sarah Hall said Slaughter has the temperament to center the position on the children’s needs.

Demling, too, said Slaughetr is stable, neutral and by the book. “That affect of a leader is a very appealing characteristic for this moment right now,” he said.

Shiao, though, expressed skepticism in Slaughter, noting he is several steps removed from supporting students, and isn’t part of an underrepresented group.

Pelham representative Margaret Stancer added Gromacki to the mix, Shutesbury representative Steve Sullivann put out Baptiste and Amherst representative Irv Rhodes suggested Custard.

Both Shiao and Leverett representative Tilman Wolf initially suggested that there should be a process for more people to apply to be considered. “This is a matter that’s urgent, but not one we should rush,” Shaio said.

As the night wore on, and the meeting stretched past 11 p.m., the committees appeared to settle on just the eight candidates, unless something happens in the intervening 48 hours.

Rhodes said he worries about the “nightmare scenario” that no one will want the job.

“Let’s get real here,” Rhodes said. “If you’re aware of what is going on, stepping into this would be a matter of great courage, or a matter of great stupidity.”

Scott Merzbach can be reached at smerzbach@gazettenet.com.]]>