Marblehead Principal A Finalist For Danvers School Leadership Position

MARBLEHEAD, MA — Marblehead Public Schools may be losing yet another administrator as Village School Elementary Principal Amanda Murphy has told the school community that she is a finalist for an elementary school principal position in Danvers.

"My name will or has become public today in Danvers," Murphy said in her weekly newsletter to families. "The interview process will continue this (week). The position starts in July. I wanted to give you a 'head's up' as I value this community tremendously.

"While this is a great opportunity for me I am also lucky to have such a community that I would enjoy continuing to work in. If I am the successful candidate, I will miss all of you and our years together as we 'Keep Each Other Well.' If not selected I assure you that I am lucky to continue the great collaboration we have here at Village School."

Former Marblehead High Principal Dan Bauer is in his first year as the superintendent of Danvers Public Schools.

Murphy is the latest in school leadership to explore new career opportunities during a stretch of heavy turnover, budget pressure and controversy within the schools.

Earlier this year, Interim Superintendent Thereasa McGuinness told the School Committee she would not be a candidate for the permanent position vacated during the negotiated departure of former Superintendent John Buckey in July.

The School Committee has since decided to search for an interim superintendent for the second straight year given the late date in the school calendar, potential budget cuts facing the district, teachers' union negotiations the departure of student services leadership staff following a student restraint incident this past fall.

Assistant Superintendent Michelle Cresta, who served as acting superintendent between the time that Buckey left the position and McGuinness was hired in November, is also leaving for a similar position at Hamilton-Wenham this month. She told the School Committee she wished not to be considered a candidate for the interim superintendent's job.

Assistant Superintendent Nan Murphy was hired as Dedham Public Schools' new superintendent last year.

Negotiations on a new union contract appeared to get off to at least a bit of a bumpy start last week during the first round of bargaining sessions.

"The Marblehead School Committee Bargaining Subcommittee met with representatives of the (Marblehead Education Association) for negotiations in executive session (Thursday night)," School Committee Chair Sarah Fox said in a statement sent to Patch. "The MEA presented the union's set of proposals but as there was an agreed-upon end time for the negotiation session, the union was not able to explain all of its proposals and the session ended before the School Committee's bargaining team could present any of its proposals.

"The School Committee looks forward to reviewing the MEA's proposals and to presenting its proposals. The School Committee had hopes to have more sessions and more information before the May town meeting but the next dates that the MEA is available for bargaining are April 2 and then not again until May 1.

"We look forward to moving through this process efficiently to provide the best contract to meet the needs of our staff, students and community."

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