APEA Condemns Superintendent’s Intervention In Middle School Principal Hire

Source: Amherst Pelham Education Assocation

The Amherst Pelham Education Association issued a statement on May 1, criticizing interim superintendent Doug Slaughter for unilaterally declaring a failed search in the recent effort ot hire a principal. Slaughter declared the search failed on April 24, and announced that he was appointing Michael Sullivan as interim principal. Suillivan is currently a consultant to the Amherst Regional School District’s Human Resources department and served previously as Superintendent of the Gill-Montague schools. Sullivan was not a candidate for the position. Neither the ARMS principal interview committee nor the regional school committee were consulted prior to the appointment. 

The Middle School principal search in the spring of 2023 was also deemed a failed search. The result was an interim structure with the Amherst Regional High School principal serving in a dual role as principal at both the high school and middle school, and two assistant principals appointed by Slaughter serving at the middle school.

The APEA is concerned about this lack of following transparent and inclusive hiring practices (see also here, here, here and here). This is a pattern that has persisted for several years throughout the district. The APEA wants to make clear that its objections are not against individual people, but rather for consistent and fair hiring practices.

The time and trust that the community invests in participating in a search and hiring process for the schools is eroded by such unilateral moves, moves that for too many years district leadership has felt emboldened to make. Students ultimately suffer when the school community loses voice in decision-making.

For more information, contact: executiveboard@amherstpelhamed.org