Swampscott school board chair opts out

SWAMPSCOTT – School Committee Chairman Larry Beaupre has added another position to fill in Swampscott when he confirmed Friday that he will not be seeking another term.?I?ve reached a point and I?ve taken a hard look at what my job was demanding and what my own family needed from me and what I?ve had to put in as chair of the committee, and I had to make an honest conclusion with myself that I couldn?t keep it up anymore,” said Beaupre.He plans to stay involved with the district lobbying for Chapter 70 money and serving on the School Building Committee for the elementary school. He added that he “will never say never” if it came to running for School Committee again.?I loved my time on the committee, working with teachers, administration and the parents of the district,” said Beaupre. “We?ve done some very good things.”At the time Beaupre?s term ends, Swampscott schools could be experiencing more than one type of transition with high school principal Layne Millington seeking a position in other districts and Superintendent Lynne Celli moving to a shared half-time position while searching for a full-time superintendent.Beaupre said he hopes Swampscott residents aren?t concerned about whatever turnover takes place.?It?s not like Dr. Celli will disappear on June 30,” he said. “The progress we made in the district will not be lost. There are very good senior members of the School Committee that will be remaining and will provide stability and welcome new members in April.”As for Millington, Beaupre said, “We certainly hope that Layne will eventually stay in Swampscott. He?s done a good job at the high school, and we?d like to keep him there. Only time will tell.”Beaupre went on to say that he hopes the community will continue to support the schools and their goals no matters who sits on the administration, especially concerning the new elementary school.?I hope the town will take a long view that the new school initiative will be as a new investment in providing education for our kids for the next 50 years, and we will have a lot of different principals and superintendents in 50 years,” said Beaupre.Beaupre served one year as chairman of the School Committee, something he said is typical.?It?s very unusual for anyone to serve more than a year,” he said. “You just can?t do it for more than a year.”Beaupre said he has no recommendations as to who should fill his shoes. “It wouldn?t be appropriate to influence something like that. It would be up to the next committee members.”Kait Taylor can be reached at [email protected].