Newly hired Interim Superintendent of Schools Dr. Theresa McGuinness was welcomed back to the school district on Thursday during her first School Committee meeting in the position.
McGuinness, formerly the principal at Village School from 2012 to 2016, was selected by the School Committee for the position on Oct. 16 after being named one of two finalists on Sept. 28.
“It’s my pleasure to be here with all of you this evening on this side of the table. I look forward to working together,” McGuinness said during her opening remarks.
As she is starting in her new position, so is the budget process for fiscal year 2025. Both McGuinness and Assistant Superintendent for Finance and Operations Michelle Cresta presented a brief budget-process update at the meeting.
Before presenting, McGuinness assured members of the community that they will be informed regularly on the FY25 process.
“We do know that given the fiscal challenges that have been for many years now and are ongoing, it’s going to be a difficult situation,” she said. “But we do promise that we will give updates throughout and gather feedback and make sure that folks know throughout this entire process this year.”
McGuinness also added during her district updates that during the next few days and weeks, she will be speaking with town leaders, officials, and community members. Come December, she said, a communication plan will be unveiled regarding how the district will “engage with the community, and our parent community, and our student community.”
Committee Chair Sarah Fox welcomed McGuinness afterward, noting that it feels like she has already been in the position for a while given everything she has done in a short period of time.
“We are so happy to have you here,” Fox said.
During the budget report, Cresta said that budget packets were expected to be handed out to principals “today,” and returned by Dec. 18. The information will be reviewed from there, with the expectation of having budget books sent to committee members by Jan. 12.
Cresta also noted that the town has requested that the district present two budgets, one for level services and the other for reduced services.
Fox also announced that the committee will be hosting a series of public forums so community members can ask questions to committee members and district officials. The first forum, which the committee is planning to hold at the beginning of December, will be focused on the school budget.
“It will be a great opportunity to really have that dialogue with the community,” Fox said. “The goal will be that as we go through presenting our budget — if we know the questions people have up front, we can answer them up front in those presentations.”
“They’ll be more fruitful as far as working with the community,” Fox added.