Choosing an assistant was the first major decision of the new school superintendent.
The Holyoke School Committee on Wednesday voted to confirm the appointment of Peck School Principal Paul Hyry-Dermith as interim assistant school superintendent. HOLYOKE — The School Committee voted 6-2 Wednesday to confirm the appointment of Peck School Principal Paul Hyry-Dermith as interim assistant school superintendent.
The appointment was the first major decision of new Superintendent Sergio Paez, who took over as leader of the School Department on Monday.
Paez said he considered Hyry-Dermith and two others for the position. He chose Hyry-Dermith because of his knowledge of the school system and record of improved student academic performances at Peck, where he has been principal of the Full Service Community School at 1916 Northampton St. for five years, he said.
"My commitment is to make the decisions that are best for the district. I believe this candidate is just the right person for the job at this point," Paez said.
The yearly salary of Hyry-Dermith as interim assistant school superintendent will be between $100,000 to $115,000, he said. Hyry-Dermith didn't attend the meeting.
Job postings will be placed in the next few weeks in order to fill the job permanently, officials said, with Paez saying of Hyry-Dermith, "Though the candidate has the qualifications, there's no guarantee that person will get the position."
The state Education Reform Act of 1993 authorizes superintendents to make most appointments with little input from the School Committee.
The assistant superintendent position is one in which the committee can vote whether to confirm the superintendent's choice, said Devin M. Sheehan, School Committee vice chairman. Still, committee members Howard B. Greaney Jr. and William R. Collamore, who voted against the appointment of Hyry-Dermith, objected to the process.
Greaney, committee member at large, questioned why the School Committee wasn't allowed to review the other two candidates Paez said he considered for the position. Sheehan said that was because the law in this case requires only that Paez submit his choice for the job to the committee for a confirmation vote.
Collamore, Ward 6 member, said the wording of the job posting to hire a permanent assistant superintendent should be approved by the School Committee. Sheehan said the law gives that authority to the superintendent.
Michael J. Moriarty, committee member at large, asked why the committee would hold Paez to a different standard since the committee didn't review the job postings made by David L. Dupont, Paez' predecessor as superintendent for three years.
Voting in favor of the appointment were Mayor Alex B. Morse, who is committee chairman, Joshua A. Garcia, Dennis W. Birks Jr., Cesar Lopez, Sheehan and Moriarty.
Members Yvonne Garcia and Margaret M. Boulais were absent.