Brookline Superintendent William Lupini will be leaving the school district to lead Essex Technical High School in Danvers but his departure date is still uncertain.
Melissa Teixeira, the chairwoman of the Essex Tech School Committee, said she’d like Lupini to start as soon as possible but understands he needs time to wrap up his 11-year tenure in Brookline.
Essex Agricultural & Technical High School in Danvers merged with North Shore Regional Vocational Technical High School in Middleton to create Essex Tech. The new school opened last year and is still working through issues associated with its consolidation, Teixeira said.
“Our position is we need him yesterday but we have to respect the fact that he has a commitment to Brookline,’’ Teixeira said. “We lost our superintendent unexpectedly so we can completely relate to Brookline’s position and are having conversations about how to make that work for both schools.’’
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Lupini has been hired to serve as an interim superintendent through the 2016-17 school year, Teixeira said. His annual salary of $189,500 will be prorated for the first year. He has an opportunity for a salary increase in year two as long as his evaluation is positive, Teixeira said.
“Essex Tech is grateful we had successful negotiations with a superintendent who comes to us with experience and has such a passion for teaching and learning,’’ Teixeira said.
Lupini’s current salary in Brookline is $225,117.
After offering Lupini the job last month, the Essex School Committee approved his contract Sept. 28. Lupini informed Brookline officials Sept. 30 that he would be resigning to take the new position.
According to an email sent by the Brookline School Committee to the community Sept. 30, officials will be developing a specific transition timeline in the next few days. The committee has appointed Dr. Joe Connolly as acting interim superintendent effective immediately. Connolly, a longtime educator, has held several positions in Brookline, and is currently leading the Devotion Building Committee project.
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“The School Committee believes that by appointing Dr. Connelly now, we will ensure a meaningful overlap with Dr. Lupini, and a seamless, orderly transition of leadership for students, families, and staff,’’ the email said.
The committee expects to name an interim superintendent within the next few weeks. The interim would serve for the rest of the school year while the School Committee launches a search for a permanent superintendent, the email states. The committee is expected to discuss the search process in more detail at its meeting Oct. 8.
Jennifer Fenn Lefferts can be reached at jflefferts@yahoo.com.