Gill-Montague Regional School District’s leadership is changing this spring, both in its administration and in its elected School Committee: Superintendent Michael Sullivan is retiring, and three seats on the nine-member School Committee are opening.
By the time of the May 18 elections, a new superintendent will have been announced. When the committee reconvenes in mid-May, it will be ushering out Sullivan, and tidying up for his replacement’s arrival in July.
Nomination papers for the School Committee positions are available at the superintendent’s office, at 35 Crocker Ave. in Turners Falls. Nomination requires at least 10 signatures of registered voters in the nominee’s town. Completed forms must be returned to the superintendent’s office by 4 p.m. on March 30. For more information, call Executive Assistant Sabrina Blanchard at 413-863-9324.
The three expiring terms are those of Cassie Damkoehler and Thomasina Hall, both of Montague, and Bill Tomb, of Gill. All new terms will be for three years.
Damkoehler has been on the School Committee for one three-year term. She said she is not running for re-election.
Hall has been on the committee for a year. She was appointed to fill a vacancy in February 2019, and then re-elected that May for a one-year term. Hall did not respond to an email request for more information.
Tomb was appointed to the committee in September 2018 to fill a vacant position, and was re-elected in May 2019 for a one-year term. Tomb did not respond to an email request for comment, but Blanchard confirmed he had taken out nomination papers.
The School Committee is also currently working to find a replacement for Sullivan, who announced his retirement in November. Pre-screening of candidates and public interviews of finalists are scheduled to take place over the next two months. Applications closed on Feb. 21, and a private screening committee is now reviewing the initial applicant pool.
The School Committee’s consultant, Tracy Novick, who is from the Massachusetts Association of School Committees, said the finalists will be announced by March 10. Finalists will be interviewed publicly by the School Committee. The committee expects to make a decision by the end of April.
Reach Max Marcus at mmarcus@recorder.com or 413-930-4231.