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Date: 5/18/2022
SOUTH HADLEY – The South Hadley School Committee officially named Dr. Mark McLaughlin the district’s acting superintendent through the end of the 2021-22 school year at a special meeting on May 12.
Chair Dr. Jackson Matos said appointing an acting superintendent was necessary as Superintendent Dr. Jahmal Mosley remains “on leave.” Matos called the circumstances surrounding Mosely’s status a “personnel matter” and the committee would not discuss it publicly. Matos later confirmed to Reminder Publishing that Mosely is being compensated during his absence.
“In accordance with the law, he is being paid while on leave,” he said.
Matos also stressed during the meeting that the public should not reach out to the Superintendent’s Office seeking information on Mosely’s status, explaining supervision of the superintendent is a responsibility of the School Committee and school officials would not have information to share.
Addressing the elevation of McLaughlin, which is in effect until June 30, Matos said she reached out to Glenn Koocher, executive director of the Massachusetts Association of School Committees, to gauge interest and availability of potential options for an acting superintendent. He said Koocher advised South Hadley to “stay put, working with talented people who have helped to keep our ship afloat.”
He continued, “He expressed the sentiment that we needed stability and I agree with that. The school year has started off rocky and we have emerged from those challenges victorious, but our boat has been rocked a bit.”
The committee’s decision to elevate McLaughlin, who has been the district’s assistant superintendent since shortly before the start of the school year, was a unanimous one. Vice Chair Alli Schlachter said she had “no hesitation” given his performance since he joined the district and in filling in for Mosley, he has been “shining.”
Committee member Danielle Cooke specifically noted McLaughlin’s efforts in the wake of the death of Plains Elementary School Principal Hank Skala.
McLaughlin admitted the coronavirus pandemic has made things difficult for all districts, but he noted South Hadley’s resilience through its challenges, calling the school community “special.”
“It has been an unusual year that’s for sure, but I am very happy to be part of a team that can do good work on behalf of the students,” he said.
The committee also elevated Business Administrator Jennifer Voyik to acting assistant superintendent of finance and business operations. Committee member Eric Friesner called the move a “no brainer.” Her appointment also runs until June 30.
The meeting included a public comment period, but no one stepped forward to speak.
Reminder Publishing was the first to report on April 6 that Mosley was “out of the office,” according to Schlachter, who was the committee’s chair at the time. McLaughlin has been communicating on behalf of the superintendent’s office during Mosely’s absence, both at School Committee meetings and in public-facing situations.
Mosely has not participated in a School Committee meeting since March 3. Amy Foley, a teacher and representative of the South Hadley Educational Association, told the committee at its March 17 meeting that union leadership had met with Mosley on March 16 to discuss his proposed revisions to the fiscal year 2023 budget. Mosely did not attend that March 17 meeting, though the agenda listed him as an anticipated participant.
Mosley was offered the superintendent’s position in November 2020 after a nearly yearlong search process, beating out two other finalists in Dr. Carole Learned-Miller and then-interim Superintendent Diana Bonneville. Mosely officially joined the district in the summer of 2021, leaving his position as superintendent of Nashua Public Schools in New Hampshire. During his first several months as superintendent, he was tasked with navigating the schools through continued public health and safety measures put in place in response to the coronavirus pandemic as well as a mold issue that closed South Hadley High School and yielded a remediation price tag of $1.4 million.
A native of Brockton, Mosley was also previously the assistant superintendent of curriculum in the Sharon Public School System. He earned his Bachelor of Arts with a concentration in psychology and African American studies and doctorate in education from the University of Massachusetts Amherst as well as a Master of Science degree in education from Wheelock College in Boston.
McLaughlin has been with the district since late July 2021, according to Mosley’s Aug. 5, 2021, report to the School Committee. He previously served the Merrimack, NH, school district for 12 years, including 10 as assistant superintendent and his final two as superintendent. According to area media reports, McLaughlin announced his resignation from that position in April 2021 but stayed on to complete the school year.
McLaughlin has a bachelor’s degree in English from St. Anselm College, a Master of Arts in English literature from Boston College and a Doctor of Education from the University of Massachusetts Lowell.