Nashoba Technical High School Principal Denise Pigeon was chosen as Nashoba Tech’s new superintendent on Monday night, but not without significant discussion over what happened over the past few days.
In a 13-1 vote, the Nashoba Tech High School Committee voted to appoint current Nashoba Tech Principal Denise Pigeon as new superintendent, replacing retiring Judith Klimkiewicz.
The committee had chosen Somerville High School’s Leo DeSimone as their preference to replace Klimkiewicz, but DeSimone suddenly removed his name from the running for the position last week, prompting the special Monday night meeting to determine what path to take next.
After narrowing down the field from 27 candidates down to three, there was little desire to reopen the search beyond the other two finalists: Pigeon and Shawsheen Valley Technical High School Assistant Superintendent Carissa Karakaedos.
However, the committee spent almost an hour discussing DeSimone’s sudden decision and how it would impact the overall process.
Several members of the committee, led by Chelmsford’s Sam Poulton and Richard DeFreitas in particular, expressed concern over a lack of details behind DeSimone’s decision, seeking to investigate why DeSimone backed out.
DeFreitas and a handful of other committee members also expressed concern that the decision was made during a meeting where they claim the decision was not a specific agenda item.
Committee Chairwoman Jennifer Rhodes told the committee that DeSimone felt an “ethical and professional obligation” to Somerville and that the salary, which was listed as ranging from $140,000 to $175,000 pending negotiations, was not a factor in DeSimone’s sudden decision.
Others on the board, in particular Chelmsford’s Donald Ayer, indicated their view that DeSimone made his decision and confirmed it by declining to provide additional details to the committee, solidifying the need for the committee to move on.
A vote to discuss additional details on DeSimone’s withdrawal out of public session prior to the final decision on a superintendent failed by a vote of 9-5.
After discussion on DeSimone’s decision ended, the board weighed the option between Pigeon and Karakaedos.
Supporters of Karakaedos noted her experience as a superintendent as well as the fact that she could bring outside views to the school. However, even among those who thought highly of Karakaedos, there was widespread admiration for Pigeon’s ideas, loyalty and growth during the interview process.
Chelmsford’s Maria Karafelis was the only vote in opposition, with a motion by Poulton requesting unanimity in support of Pigeon also passing with unanimous support outside of the objection from Karafelis.
While Poulton spoke highly of Pigeon, he followed his request for unanimous support with another motion citing disappointment in what transpired regarding DeSimone.
“I don’t want to be quoted as the person disappointed,” he said. “We were as open and transparent as any committee could be and it’s important for the committee to notify the successful and unsuccessful.”
That motion passed unanimously in a voice vote.
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