Danvers Acting Co-Superintendents Extended Through End Of May

DANVERS, MA — The Danvers School Committee on Monday night extended the contracts of Keith Taverna and Mary Wermers as acting co-superintendents through May 31 as Lisa Dana remains out on medical leave.

Taverna and Wermers were elevated from assistant to co-acting superintendents in D when Dana began her leave at the end of December. Monday night was the second time their tenure was extended.

"There is no public update," School Committee Chair Eric Crane said of Dana's leave status. "Things remain exactly as they were. We wish Dr. Dana well and hope she is recovering well. But we really don't have any updated information that we can share with the community now."

The School Committee had voted in February to extend Taverna's and Wermers' new roles through April 11, but acted early to push that out even further on Monday. Things will take another turn either at the end of May, however, with Taverna informing the School Committee that he is leaving the school district as well at that time.

"We have the utmost confidence in both of you," Crane said. "Mary, we know you and your team are going to be ready for whatever happens next. I know you have confidence in your principals and curriculum staff and the other leaders in the district to help you as you're moving forward."

The School Committee did authorize the search for a dedicated school human resources officer to take over that part of Taverna's responsibilities when he departs at the end of May as part of what Crane termed a "restructuring" of the administrative staff.

"I am just going to keep reiterating — and I know I am probably Miss Optimism here — but I want to use this time as a district as positive forward momentum," Danvers School Committee member Alice Campbell said. "I know it's hard going through change — particularly all at once. But I want it to be a positive change.

"Going forward, we want to be able to find the best leaders to replace Keith and everything he has done."

(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)