Saugus’ Langlois lands new job

SAUGUS – Superintendent of Schools Richard Langlois was chosen over the weekend to become the next superintendent for Marlborough Public Schools.Langlois, who has been the Saugus superintendent since 2008, beat out 40 total candidates and two other finalists to get the job.The Marlborough School Committee selected Langlois after a three-hour meeting Saturday, citing in a press release his “proven administrative and instructional leadership track record in Massachusetts.””We believe that Mr. Langlois is the right person at the right time for the job,” said Marlborough Mayor Arthur Vigeant in the release.But Langlois will be missed in Saugus, say town school committee members.”Marlborough’s gain is our loss,” said School Committee Member Joseph Malone. “He’s on top of all the trends in education right now.”Malone cited Langlois’ work improving Saugus Public School’s special education departments and selecting stand-out staff who are popular with students, teachers and parents.”He’s really a great town evaluator, he really knows his personnel,” Malone said.The Saugus School Committee voted unanimously in September 2011 to extend Langlois’ contract through 2015. But two months later, Langlois applied for and was named a finalist for the Pentucket Regional School District, although he did not get the job.To School Committee member Arthur Grabowski, Langlois had made it clear he had no intentions of honoring his contract and he is now “looking forward to the start of a new era.””I have to admit Mr. Langlois did make some improvements and brought the school along,” he said. “But it’s a good time to bring someone new into the fold, new blood so to speak.”School Committee Vice Chairwoman Corinne Riley said she wished Langlois well on his next journey.”He has done a lot for our district, that’s for sure,” Riley said, adding students will be the ones most affected by his departure.School Committee Chairwoman Wendy Reed told the Item on Jan. 22 that as Langlois moves on, Saugus must find an interim superintendent as it puts together a search committee for a new one.Riley said Saturday she hopes the search for a new superintendent pulls together the town, school committee and everyone involved to find what’s best for Saugus.”I hope in our search, we will find a candidate that will build on [Langlois’] successes,” she said.Grabowski said he hoped the search would mend some fences and bring in someone that will have a good rapport with the town side of government, particularly as they go into budget season.”New should be the byword in the School Department this year,” he said. “New ideas, I’m excited.”As Langlois negotiates a contract with the Marlborough School Committee, his official start date remains up in the air, according to the release.According to the Massachusetts Association of School Committees, Marlborough has a population of 38,500 with a school district enrollment of 4,700 and 780 staff members. The school budget is $56 million annually.Langlois did not return a request for a comment.Item reporter Chris Stevens contributed to this report.Amber Parcher can be reached at [email protected].