Danvers Acting Superintendents Extended At Least 2 More Months

DANVERS, MA — Keith Taverna and Mary Wermers will be charged with jointly guiding Danvers Public Schools for at least another two months after the School Committee approved and extended their respective contracts Monday night.

The assistant superintendents were appointed as co-acting superintendents in late December when Superintendent Lisa Dana took a medical leave. The appointments were initially for six weeks, with Monday night's extension now carrying through April 11.

School Committee Chair Eric Crane did not update Dana's status or potential return to the district, beyond saying that the situation will be evaluated again in early April.

"Based on what we know now our sense is that Dr. Dana would be out at least through that date," Crane said. "So we want to make sure we have continuity going forward. The date of the 11th at this point seems sensible to us. It's not for any particular (deadline). It's not a red-letter date for any reason."

Crane said the "working agreement" details — which are public record — include an extra $500 per week stipend for both Taverna and Wermers.

"I would simply say that you are both doing a really strong job for us during this time," Crane said. "It's obviously a time of uncertainty but it's been clear to me.

"I am lucky in a sense that I get to communicate with you both probably a little more than maybe the other members (of the School Committee). I am impressed with how you work together and what you have been able to keep moving forward."

Their extension came on the night Taverna and Wermers jointly recommended that the district follow state Department of Elementary and Secondary Education guidelines and allow the mask order for inside school buildings to expire on Feb. 28.

The schools will become mask-optional in two weeks regardless of that school's vaccination rate or an individual student or staff member's vaccination status.

Taverna told the School Committee on Monday night that recent surveys on the mask question revealed indicated that 74 percent of students and families, and 66 percent of staff, said they were in favor of going mask-optional following February break.

(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.)