School Committee votes 6-4 to notify superintendent of her successor agreement

  The School Committee voted 6-4 to notify the superintendent in writing before December 1 whether or not it plans to commence negotiations for a successor agreement with the Superintendent during Monday’s School Committee meeting at Everett High School.

  School Committee Chairwoman Jeanne Cristiano, who represents Ward 3, read a memorandum received from Attorney Robert Galvin, Esq. to the school committee dated Monday — “I’m offering this memorandum that the committee has the discussion and that the committee should have written notice that it wishes to have contract negotiations,” Galvin wrote.

  Superintendent Priya Tahiliani’s contract is from March 1, 2020 to February 28, 2024 with an option to extend it until June 30, 2024.

  “The superintendent has the option to ask the committee to extend her contract,” Gavin wrote. “She may have requested it to occur a few months ago, and it was sent to a subcommittee.

  The failure of a School Committee to give such notice implies they don’t want to renew the contract. Galvin suspects that they’d want to explore considering an extension.

  Ward 1 School Committee member Millie Cardello said the vote is to discuss a possibility of extending her contract, not voting on her contract on Monday. The committee isn’t committed either way.

  “I believe this vote means we’ll go into discussions,” Cardello said. “The superintendent would have to agree on a new contract.”

  Ward 5 School Committee member Marcony Almeida Barros made a motion for favorable action.

  School Committee member At Large Cynthia Sarnie made a motion if they were to vote in the affirmative that they send a letter of their willingness to negotiate a contract.

  Mayor Carlo DeMaria asked if there will be a meeting before December 1. Cristiano said Monday was the vote either to begin conversations about a successor agreement, and if they vote no, they are not.