Schools

Middle School Principal Leaves Position Early

The principal of six years said he was leaving due to health reasons and to recharge his batteries before starting his new job in Cambridge.

 

Ralph Watson made his resignation immediate late last week due to health reasons and to get ready for his new job, according to school officials.

Assistant Principal Megan Bonomolo has become the middle school's acting principal and will be in that position for the rest of the school year, Superintendent Lynne Celli said.

Find out what's happening in Swampscottwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The superintendent said Ralph Watson sent out an email to staff last week indicating that he was leaving his post earlier than expected due to health reasons and to recharge his batteries before he starts his job in the head position at a new upper school in Cambridge.

Originally he was to leave Swampscott in June. 

Find out what's happening in Swampscottwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Superintendent Celli said that Watson is still being paid by the school district and the details are being worked out on when Swampscott will stop paying him and Cambridge starts paying him.

Administrators are not allowed to double dip — receive payment from two districts at the same time — but they can use accrued vacation time during a transition period, before they start their new job, she said.

The superintendent said she is excited about the acting administrative team that is in place and is confident in their abilities to maintain a positive environment for the middle school students.

Bonomolo has been a Swampscott Middle School school administrator since 2008.

The new assistant principal is Todd Brown, who was a gym teacher but had interned at the school as an administrator. He has been with the district since 2002.

School Committee Chairman Jackie Kinney said she is confident that Bonomolo's experience as a middle school assistant principal will enable her to guide the school through the end of the year.

Watson's decision to leave his middle school post became official on Thursday, the chairman said.

The principal announced earlier that he was selected for the Cambridge job. He submitted a letter of resignation to the district on March 12, and was expected to remain in the Swampscott position through June.

The superintendent said she hopes to hire a new principal for the 2012-13 school year within the next two weeks.

This timeline would allow the new principal to be in the school alongside the acting principal during the school's transitional days in April.

Ralph Watson had been the school's principal for six years.

The search committee for the Swampscott Middle School principal's job has selected three finalists.  These finalists were selected from a semifinalist field of seven and a pool of 44 applicants. 

The finalists are Chad Mazza, currently principal in Holyoke,  Jared Fulgoni, principal in the Triton Regional School District, and Robert Murphy, principal in the Lynn Public Schools.

Finalists will be visiting the Swampscott Middle School on Wednesday, March 28, and Friday, March 30, for open meetings with staff, community members, parents and administration. 

A complete schedule for each finalist is included herein and can also be found on the SPS website (www.swampscott.k12.ma.us)

 

                                    Jared Fulgoni – 3/28                                                           

10:30 – 11:15

Meeting with Parents/Community

Little Theater

11:15-12:00

Tour of Building

 

12:00-1:00

Lunch on your own

 

1:00-1:40

Cabinet/Administrators

Large Conference Room

1:40 – 2:00

Dr. Celli

Superintendent’s Office

2:00-2:45

Tour Swampscott (on your own)

 

2:45-3:15

Faculty/Staff

Library

3:15-4:15

Final Interview

Large Conference Room

                                    Chad Mazza – 3/28                                                           

10:30 – 11:15

Tour of the Building

 

11:15-12:00

Meeting w/Parents/Community

Little Theater

12:00-1:00

Lunch

 

1:00 – 1:30

Dr. Celli

Superintendent’s Office

2:00 – 2:45

Cabinet/Administrators

Large Conference Room

2:45-3:15

Tour Swampscott (on your own)

 

3:15-4:15

Faculty/Staff

Library

4:15-5:15

Final Interview

Large Conference Room

                                   Robert Murphy – 3/30                                               

10:30 – 11:00

Tour of the Building

 

11:00-12:40

Lunch Meeting w/Staff

Faculty Room

12:40 – 1:00

Dr. Celli

Superintendent’s Office

1:00-1:30

Parents/Community

Little Theater

1:30 – 2:00

Cabinet/Administrators

Large Conference Room

2:00 -3:00

Final Interview

Large Conference Room


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here