Updated: New Middle School Principal Hired

Pickering Middle School's Robert Murphy was hired Tuesday as principal of the effective July 1.

Swampscott Superintendent Lynne Celli said yesterday that she had negotiated a contract with Murphy. He is finishing his fifth year as principal of the Lynn middle school.

The contract is for three years. His salary is $117,000, said Kathleen Leonard, the superintendent's executive assistant. (The terms were released in response to a public records request.)

While his official start date in Swampscott is July 1, he will be spend a number of transition days in the district before his official start date to get to know the staff, the students, the landscape, and the school culture.

He will also hire an assistant principal since the Swampscott Middle School's Acting Principal, and former assistant principal, Megan Bonomolo, has accepted an assistant principal position in Needham for the next school year, the superintendent said.

Murphy has worked as a teacher, an assistant principal and a principal.

The superintendent said he brings experience and familiarity with the core curriculum.

He is excited about his new job, the principal said.

The superintendent expects the principal will hit the ground running when he starts on July 1.

He was the recommended by the district Search Committee, made up of Swampscott Middle School teachers, district principals, the administrator of student services, parents, and community members.

He was selected from an original field of 44 applicants.

The search process included interviews and open forums with staff, community, parents, and SPS administrators.

Murphy will succeed Ralph Watson who spent six years as the Swampscott Middle School principal.

Watson made his resignation immediate in late March due to health reasons and to get ready for his new job in Cambridge, according to school officials.