Danvers Schools To Go With Co-Superintendents For Next 6 Weeks

DANVERS, MA — Danvers Public Schools Assistant Superintendents Keith Taverna and Mary Wermers will serve as co-superintendents for at least six weeks while Lisa Dana is out on medical leave, the School Committee unanimously voted in a special meeting Thursday night.

School Committee Chair Eric Crane said the School Committee will re-evaluate the situation on a rolling basis as long as Dana remains on leave.

"At this point, we don't know when Dr. Dana might return," Crane said. "And so we're sort of going to be reviewing this every month or every six weeks in order to consider where we go next.

"So it's possible this could be a six-week appointment only. It's possible things could change. Who knows?"

Dana took the medical leave amid a punishing stretch for the district, and the town as a whole, which has been marred with a long string of incidents of hate and bias involving racist, homophobic and antisemitic language and graffiti.

Dana spoke of the toll the ongoing scrutiny and public backlash the incidents — specifically, accusations of racist and homophobic locker room hazing involving the boys hockey program during the 2019-20 school year — had taken on her earlier this month.

"When the recent media created a firestorm of opinions that we legally aren't allowed to comment on it became an increasingly difficult situation," Dana said during a Dec. 13 School Committee meeting. "One that has taken a toll on students, staff and me, as well as a community as a whole.

"As the superintendent, I understand attacks are going to come my way, and — right or wrong — I've tried to shield my team from them while also making changes. For the protection of my own mental health, I quickly had to learn not to look at the social media comments, while at the same time take a critical look at how the situation was handled."

Crane expressed confidence that Taverna and Wermers could help guide the district on a temporary basis until a longer-term path forward can be determined.

"We are fortunate to be able to have a situation where our assistant superintendents really cover very different areas," Crane said. "Keith is personnel, operations and business. Mary, of course, is into the curriculum and the actual teaching and learning models.

"I believe your skills really do complement each other. And I believe everybody on the committee would join me in saying that we have complete confidence in you. We really appreciate your willingness to step up and help the district through this next temporary period."

(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.)

More Patch Coverage: 'We Will Continue To Call Out Hateful Acts': Danvers Town Manager

Danvers Middle School Racist Graffiti: 'It Will Not Be Tolerated'

Danvers Schools Strengthens Anti-Defamation League Partnership

Danvers Middle School Meetings After Yet Another Swastika Found

'Our Community Has Been Traumatized': Danvers School Committee

Danvers School Committee Delays Action Amid Hockey Abuse Probe

Passions Soar As Danvers School Committee Talks Hockey Charges