Swampscott super shuffle stirs board

SWAMPSCOTT – School Committee member Ted Delano created a heated discussion at a meeting Tuesday when he moved to appoint high school principal Layne Millington as a split principal and superintendent for next school year.Delano was supported by fellow members Jaren Landen and Marianne Hartmann in his thinking that promoting from within would maintain stability and continuity in the community.Delano later took the movement off the table when he was staunchly opposed by Superintendent Lynne Celli, Chairman Larry Beaupre, Assistant Superintendent Pam Angelakis and middle school principal Bob Murphy, who insisted Millington didn?t have the central office experience to fill the job.Angelakis said the idea sounded like “a deal” made to keep Millington in Swampscott, the principal being a finalist candidate for jobs in other districts.Millington remained silent for much of the discussion, but did speak on his behalf. He said he wished to leave the district last April “given the dynamics in the district weren?t comfortable for me” and agreed to stay through October to “see how the dynamics played out.”Millington said he was “keenly aware” that the district needed more unity, which he said was evident to him seeing Swampscott has had 13 different principals and superintendents in a decade.?What I would like desperately is to go back to the plan I had in October,” he said in a final statement. “I love Swampscott, I love the school, I love the kids, but at this point in time ? I?d like to move on in peace and dignity.”After almost three hours of discussion on the subject, the committee decided to form a subcommittee to review candidates for an interim superintendent to start June 30 to complement Celli?s half-time position. The subcommittee would choose three candidates who would then be interviewed by the public.The subcommittee will report their findings at the School Committee meeting March 27.Kait Taylor can be reached at [email protected].