AMHERST — As a process continues to find a permanent Amherst Regional Middle School principal, High School Principal Talib Sadiq is relinquishing his oversight of the building where seventh and eighth graders are educated.

Interim Superintendent Douglas Slaughter announced in a recent letter to families that Sadiq, who has been in the middle school role since last July 1, will be stepping away from that position on April 22.

Interim assistant principals Doreen Reid and Rich Ferro will remain in their positions at the middle school.

“We know that both schools will benefit from having their principals on-site full time in order to focus all of their time, support and expertise on serving the students, faculty and staff of their specific school community,” Slaughter wrote.

The leadership teams were established last May by former Superintendent Michael Morris after Diego Sharon stepped down as middle school principal, with Sadiq taking on oversight of both regional schools that educate grades 7-12 students from Amherst, Leverett, Shutesbury and Pelham.

Ferro, a middle school science teacher, and Reid, a longtime special education teacher, will have additional support through the remainder of the school year, according to Slaughter’s memo.

Sadiq will be at the high school full time, where he has been principal since summer 2020, along with assistant principals Samantha Camera, Miki Gromacki and Chris Kusek.

The finalists for middle school principal are Lamikco Magee, the dean of students, and two out-of-district educators, Susan Gilson, who is also a finalist to be superintendent, and Gina Fasoli Figueroa. Slaughter wrote that the hiring process continues and communication will be provided to families when a decision is made.

In January, Leytha Gayle-Brissett was set to be the interim middle school principal, but took her name out of consideration after objections were raised at a school committee meeting about her role with the school’s restorative justice program.

Staff Writer Scott Merzbach can be reached at smerzbach@gazettenet.com.