Salem Names Interim School Superintendent

SALEM, MA — Salem Public Schools named Assistant Superintendent Kate Carbone acting superintendent as it continues to negotiate the resignation of Margarita Ruiz. In a letter to the school community, Mayor Kim Driscoll, who also serves as the chair of the school committee, said Carbone would remain in the interim position for the remainder of the year. Carbone has been with the district for eight years.

"On behalf of the school committee, I want to thank Superintendent Ruiz for her four years of dedication and service to the children of Salem, to our schools, and to our community," Driscoll wrote in the letter, which was dated Thursday.

The school committee met in closed session Thursday to discuss the exit plan for Ruiz. "We will offer more information on this as soon as it is available," Driscoll wrote. At the committee's last public meeting, Driscoll announced that Ruiz would be stepping down.

More than 100 people have signed a petition urging the board to take a vote of no confidence in Driscoll and Ruiz, citing high turnover among the school system's principals, as well as last month's abrupt resignation and replacement of the principal at Salem High School.

Dave Copeland can be reached at dave.copeland@patch.com or by calling 617-433-7851. Follow him on Twitter (@CopeWrites) and Facebook (/copewrites).