Saugus scrambles to replace departed principal

SAUGUS – Waybright Principal Glen McKay has left, if not for greener pastures, at least for one closer to home, which in turn has left Superintendent Richard Langlois scrambling to find a replacement with only weeks until school starts.McKay left his post, which he’s only held for two years, at the Waybright late last month to take a job at the Hood School in his hometown of North Reading.School Committee Chairman Joseph Malone said he was shocked when he heard McKay was departing, but was not completely surprised that he was lured away.”It’s a tremendous loss,” he said. “He’s a great principal, he’ll be tough to replace.”Despite the lateness of the date, Malone said he didn’t believe Langlois would seek an interim posting.”I haven’t heard interim at all,” he said, adding that he hasn’t had the chance to actually discuss the issue with Langlois yet.Langlois said he wouldn’t rule out an interim principal, but he considered it a Plan B option.After posting the job, Langlois said he received a number of applications, which he plans to profile with an abbreviated screening committee of administrators, teachers and a few parents. Statute, he pointed out, allows him and not the School Committee to make the appointment.”I’ve got a pool of candidates to look at and interview,” Langlois said. “I’ll do that quickly and we’ll go from there. If I’m not satisfied with the pool then we’ll look at an interim.””We’ll need a Cracker Jack replacement, he was a young and talented guy,” Malone said.A fourth generation Saugonian, McKay either attended or worked in every school in the district. He attended the Oaklandvale School and taught at the high school, Veterans School and Belmonte Middle School and then landed as principal at the Waybright.Despite his claim that his heart would always be in Saugus, his new job will be at the J.T. Hood School in North Reading.