AMHERST — The Oct. 3 meeting of the Joint Amherst, Pelham, Regional and Union 26 School Committee welcomed their newly selected members for their first gathering as a fully staffed body.

Former Fort River school teacher Roger Wallace, Gabriela Cornejo Weaver, a University of Massachusetts chemistry professor and Katie Lazdowski, a restorative justice professional, were selected at the Sept. 26 meeting of the Town Council and the remaining members of the Amherst School Committee.

With no current leadership for the Amherst School Committee, interim Superintendent Douglas Slaughter opened the meeting and solicited nominations for the positions of chair, vice chair and secretary.

Irv Rhodes, Jennifer Shaio and new member Lazdowski were all nominated as the sole candidates and were voted into the respective positions.

Without scheduled agenda items, committee members discussed future items and training for the new members.

The joint committee session went into discussions with representatives from the Massachusetts Association of School Committees concerning the search protocols for a new, permanent superintendent.

Executive Director Glenn Koocher outlined a guide for the search, offering the option to the committee of casting a wide net in their examination of potential candidates.

“This is an interesting district because it is a region and two independent school districts under the region,” he told the board.
Committee members were quick to point out that it is actually three districts under the region.

Members surveyed a proposed list of participants in the search process including a subcommittee and the potential outlines for questioning of candidates after agreeing on the job description.

Committee Member and Regional Chair Sarahbess Kenney suggested that job description need not necessarily be created by an entire list of people and positions outlined and presented before the committee.

“I do think this list of people should help to create the list of questions and how we go through figuring out who will be the best candidate,” she said.

Following further discussion and visiting standing fiscal project issues, the committee adjourned and is expected to follow the existing meeting schedule.