Newton principal at center of graffiti controversy is transferred

Brian Turner is moving from his job as Day Middle School principal to central administration.Aram Boghosian for The Boston Globe

Day Middle School Principal Brian Turner, who came under criticism for failing to report incidents of anti-Semitic graffiti at the school, has been moved to a job in the Newton school department’s central administration.

Mark Aronson, currently interim principal at Newton North High School, will take over as Day’s interim principal for the 2016-2017 school year, the superintendent announced.

“Burn the Jews” was found written on the wall of a boys’ bathroom at Day in October, and a swastika was found trampled in snow outside the school in January, but the public was not made aware until late February, when an anonymous letter was sent to city and school officials and the Anti-Defamation League.

Turner later apologized to the Day community for not reporting the incidents at the time they occurred.

School Superintendent David Fleishman said Friday the move was a mutual decision between Turner and himself. “We felt this was the best for Day, and what is best going forward,” he said.

Turner will fill a newly created position as director of professional development and assessment in the office of Teaching and Learning. He will be responsible for a variety of duties, including coordinating and evaluating professional development offerings for teachers, Fleishman said.

The job is similar to positions in the Cambridge and Brookline schools, Fleishman said.