Page 2 THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, MAY 21, 2021 School Committee nearing a contract settlement with the new superintendent, Erin McMahon, to lead Saugus Public Schools By Mark E. Vogler Saugus Advocate. “Just need to iron out the lanI t’s not offi cial yet that Erin McMahon has become the fi rst woman superintendent to lead Saugus Public Schools. But after about two hours of contract talks between School Committee members and McMahon in executive session via Zoom teleconferencing on Wednesday (May 19) night, School Committee Vice-Chair Ryan Fisher said he is quite optimistic about a deal being wrapped up soon. “We've reached a tentative agreement with Ms. McMahon and the lawyers,” Fisher told The guage. I expect we'll vote and sign her contract next week. Erin was our fi rst choice for so many reasons and I couldn't be more excited for Saugus!” Fisher said. “We’d like to put together a public meet and greet after the relaxation of the Covid protocols in early June.” McMahon, 47, of Marblehead, currently the senior advisor to state Education Commissioner Jeff rey C. Riley, was the committee’s 4-0 unanimous choice earlier this month to replace retiring School Superintendent DaJ& $45 yd. S LANDSCAPE & MASONRY CO. MULCH SALE! Discount Spring Special PICK-UP or DELIVERY AVAILABLE 617-389-1490 Premium Hemlock or Pitch Black BELOW WHOLESALE COSTS LANDSCAPERS WELCOME $4 yd. $40 yd. $3 yd. We don’t just make deals. We make it happen. TALK TO SEAN ABOUT OUR COMMERCIAL AND CONSTRUCTION LOANS. WE’RE READY TO HELP YOU GET STARTED. SEAN CUMMINGS SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT SCUMMINGS@EVERETTBANK . COM 61 7-957-9989 $2.39 419 BROADWAY, EVERETT MA 02149 WWW.EVERETTBANK .COM/COMMERCIALLENDING Member FDIC Member DIF vid DeRuosi, Jr. School Committee Chair Thomas Whittredge abstained from the vote because of a potential confl ict of interest, as his sister, Dawn Trainor, is the executive director of Pupil Personnel Services & Special Education – a high administrative position that reports directly to the superintendent. DeRuosi’s contract expires on June 30, which is the fi nal day of the 2020-21 academic school year and the 2021 fi scal year and also the end of his fi fth year as superintendent. “I’ve had several conversations with Erin since her election, and she’s very excited to get started and will hit the ground running,” said Fisher, who chaired the 15-member Superintendent Search Committee which culled a fi eld of 25 initial applicants down to nine and then four fi nalists who were interviewed by the full School Committee. Committee members were hoping to have at least a month’s transition between DeRuosi’s departure and McMahon taking charge. And a NEGOTIATING A CONTRACT: Erin McMahon says she is “excited” about going to work for Saugus Public Schools as the next superintendent. And that could happen as soon as she and the School Committee agree on a contract. (Courtesy Photo to The Saugus Advocate by Susannah Bothe Photography) contract settlement by sometime next week would assure that. DeRuosi had pledged to help the transition go smoothly when he announced his retirement last December. McMahon earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in History from Yale University in New Haven, Conn. She was a member of the Yale University Women’s Soccer Team and was Vice President of Pi Beta Phi Sorority. She received her Master of Business Administration, Finance and Operations, from Cornell University in Ithaca, N.Y. She also earned a Master of Science degree in Education Leadership from Pace University in New York City. In her current duties as senior advisor to Commissioner Riley, McMahon has been guiding the COVID-19 reentry process, making recommendations for health and safety, rapid response and remote learning. McMahon’s other duties include providing practical recommendations to district superintendents on how to plan for different models of learning while monitoring the implementation and the quality of the reopening and tracking lead indicators of wellness/instruction. She worked for six years as associate chief of academics and innovation in Denver Public Schools. She also served for three years as a regional superintendent overseeing 6,200 students in 14 schools in that city. Before joining Commissioner Riley’s staff , she was the chief program offi cer/chief academic offi cer of Kipp Foundation, which involved 224 schools serving 115,000 students in New York City. McMahon continues to be an adjunct professor of Education Leadership in the Graduate School of Business at Columbia University in New York City. She teaches a graduate level business course in educational leadership that focuses on solving the human capital challenges of leading schools and school systems. A candidate’s primer H Town of Saugus Election Calendar for 2021 ere are some important dates released by the Saugus Town Clerk’s Offi ce: July 19: Local election nomination papers become available. Sept. 7: At 5pm Last day for incumbent Town Meeting Members wishing to become a candidate for re-election to submit written notice to the Town Clerk. Sept. 10: At 5pm Last day to OBTAIN nomination papers. Sept. 14: At 5pm Last day for candidates to SUBMIT nomination papers to the Board of Registrars (Town Clerk’s Offi ce) for certifi cation of signatures. Sept. 30: At 5pm Last day to fi le objections or withdrawals. Sept. 30: At 5:30pm Drawing of ballot positions (Town Hall Auditorium). Oct. 13: At 8:15am-8pm Last day to register to vote. Fifty (50) certifi ed signatures of registered voters are rePRIMER | SEE PAGE 13
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