Swampscott turns to one of its own to lead schools

SWAMPSCOTT – Swampscott schools came full circle in 2013, as the administration started the year in another state of turnover, only to end with one of their own leading the district.Former Superintendent Lynne Celli followed the pattern of short-time administrators, when she announced after three years in Swampscott she would be leaving her post. School Committee meetings became the height of drama as committee members struggled among themselves with the task of who would be fit to lead after 10 years of high turnover – some thought giving the position to high school Principal Layne Millington would be a perfect way to keep him in Swampscott after he announced it would be his last year in the district. Committee meetings became an open forum for community members to voice their frustration at what they perceived as a lack of leadership.A School Committee election that brought two fresh faces to the table seemed to calm the waters, as Amy O?Conner and Carin Marshall filled the seats of Larry Beaupre and Jaren Landen. The committee brought on Garry Murphy, an administrator with a history of mentoring potential superintendents, to work with Celli in a half-time, shared role, and the spotlight turned to Assistant Superintendent Pamela Angelakis as a successor. With more than 20 years in the district, moving from teacher to principal to central administration, Murphy said that with enough mentoring, Angelakis would be a perfect choice for superintendent.The district also brought in former Lowell headmaster Ed Rozmiarek to fill Millington?s vacancy when he moved across the border to become principal of Marblehead High School.When Celli relinquished her post before the school year began, the search for a full-time superintendent became even more prevalent, but the district celebrated a win with the acceptance of the Massachusetts School Building Authority to partially fund a new elementary school to replace the aging Hadley School. At a vote in the beginning of the school year, the School Building Committee voted to building a one-district elementary school next to Swampscott Middle School on Forest Avenue. Town Meeting members next spring will ultimately make the decision whether to accept the committee?s endorsement.Meanwhile, after the School Committee hosted a public forum to hear ideas from the community for what the committee should be looking for in the next superintendent, they decided at a meeting in late November that Angelakis was the best choice for superintendent.With Murphy?s contract expiring Jan. 31, the committee decided to have Angelakis start as superintendent Feb. 1. School Committee Chairman Rick Kraft said he is hoping to keep Murphy on as a consultant to the district, depending on finances.Swampscott schools have yet to be one big happy family: In the fall, Business Manager Ed Cronin made his own exit for reasons that have yet to be released.As the district plans for the future of its school system, Town Administrator Thomas Younger said the town would be getting moving on a piece from the past. In November, the town held a public hearing to decide what to do with the Machon School, a building left vacant in 2007. Outcries from the public of the ever-decreasing amount of open space could mean a new park for Swampscott.