BEVERLY — In an unexpected rearrangement of elementary school principals, Superintendent James Hayes hired longtime district administrator Stacy Bucyk to lead at Cove and moved current Cove Principal Karla Pressman to fill the vacancy at Centerville.
"I am sure this comes as a surprise to just about all of you," Hayes wrote in an e-mail to Centerville and Cove staff members.
He reassigned Pressman based on the higher percentage of Centerville students who would be on the free and reduced lunch program. In an effort to disperse the population more evenly throughout the district, Centerville will have the most kids, at 27 percent — which means that school will also receive and spend more financial assistance from the federal government.
"I believe that school faces more change than any other next year as it adjusts to a new population and becomes a Title 1 school," Hayes said. "I felt a strong need to place an experienced principal there to help the school make that adjustment."
He hired Bucyk as the interim principal at Cove based on her years of experience in different administrative roles in the district office. She has worked in the Beverly school system since 1996.
"I have been impressed with Stacy Bucyk since seeing her success as an administrative intern at Ayers a number of years ago," Hayes said.
She has filled in for the special education director when she was on long-term leave, is currently assisting the director in leadership in the special education department, has served as a reading specialist, Title 1 teacher, staff trainer and chairwoman of the district's administrative team. She has three master's degrees in reading, moderate special needs and educational leadership, the last of which she received through the Salem State College TILE program, which is an effort between local districts and the college to develop future principals.
"She is ready to take on the role of principal, and, with mentoring from Karla and the support of other colleagues, I know she will do a fine job as Cove principal," Hayes said.
The position first opened up when Centerville Principal Bill Foley announced he was retiring after nearly 34 years in the district. Hayes started a search for a replacement, narrowed it down to three finalists and then announced a plan to consolidate the city's elementary schools. Under the plan, there was no need to hire another principal, so Hayes stopped short of checking the candidates' references and put the search on hold.
"We said if the position becomes available again, we'll pick up where we left off," he said.
With McKeown closed, Principal Colleen McBride would have been transferred to another elementary school, but instead she resigned, and the job opened up again.
Hayes said he did go back to the three finalists, but wasn't satisfied.
"One candidate withdrew, and I was not satisfied that the other two candidates were the right people for the job," Hayes said.
In the running was Christine Sarantopoulous, a third-grade teacher at Centerville.
"I know many of you supported Chris S. for this position," Hayes said. "Though she was an impressive candidate, making the leap from classroom to principal in the same school is extremely difficult for anyone, and I was unwilling to put her in that circumstance."
Outgoing Cove PTO President Cindy Carbone said she was surprised at the reorganization. She knew Foley was leaving Centerville, but thought someone new would replace him.
"I certainly didn't expect Karla Pressman to be filling his shoes," she said. "It's going to be a huge adjustment for the kids. No matter what, we're all going through a lot of adjustments."
In addition to McKeown kids being split between North Beverly and Ayers, about 200 other kids will also switch schools as part of a citywide redistricting.
Bucyk said she's ready for the challenge of leading Cove for the year.
"My goal starting off is to get to know the staff, get to know the students and get to know the parents," she said. "I don't expect to go in there and make huge changes right away." Working in the special education department for the last three years, she said she's also excited to be around kids again and plans to make herself as visible as possible to make the transition as smooth as possible.
Bucyk starts July 1 as the interim principal for one year, at a salary of $90,000.
"Deciding to move Karla from Cove to Centerville was not easy," Hayes said. "I know how much she will be missed. But the need for someone with her experience and expertise at Centerville was greater, and as superintendent I had to address that need or risk a very difficult situation at Centerville. I felt Cove was in a better position to adjust to a new principal."
Obama Gives Education Waivers to 10 States
Giffords Aide to Run for Her Seat
LA School in Sex Abuse Scandal Reopens
Winter Slamming North Asia, Parts of Europe
Syrian Forces Renew Bombardment of Homs
States, Banks Reach Foreclosure-abuse Settlement
Raw Video: Italy's Mount Etna Bursts Into Life
Greeks March; Angry Despite Debt Deal
Raw Video: U.S. Pullout Celebration
Raw Video: Annual Empire State Building Run-Up
Man Killed in Courthouse Shootout
Air Force Airlines: Leaders Get Polished Service
Ga Girl Fights Off Kidnapper at Walmart
Nevada Highway Patrol, City Settle Beating Case
Homs Bombardment Continues, Global Outcry Grows
Raw Video: Dog Rescued From Icy Colo. Water
Skip the Coffee Cup and Inhale Your Caffeine Fix
