School Committee Rates Superintendent Needs Improvement

School Committee · Meeting of June 30, 2026

AMHERST — The Amherst School Committee voted 4-0 to rate the superintendent's performance "needs improvement" after a letter from more than 27 administrators criticized the panel's treatment of district leaders. Crocker Farm Principal Derek Shea, Assistant Principal Alicia Lopez and Wildwood Elementary Principal Allison Estes read the letter, saying staff were "dismayed and concerned" by the superintendent's decision to resign after the 2026-27 school year and describing leaders as having been "muted or silenced" at meetings. Members Sarah, Andrew, Bridget and Deb voted on all measures; member Jane was absent.

The committee also voted 4-0 to rescind a May 7 policy motion requiring 12-hour family notice of restraint or seclusion incidents, aligning the requirement with the district's existing 24-hour policy, JKAA. The committee pushed its annual retreat to August to focus partly on superintendent-search planning.

In the full story:

• Public Comment: Administrators' Letter on the Superintendent's Resignation
• Chair and Superintendent Updates
• Superintendent Summative Evaluation: Process and Technical Delays
• The Superintendent's Response
• Policy Correction: Rescinding Motion 1B on Restraint and Seclusion Notification
• Future Agenda Planning: Minutes, Retreat and the Superintendent Search
• Who Was There
• Organizations And Documents Referenced
• The complete report: 2,237 words

Source: the School Committee meeting of June 30, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.

Checked against the record: before publication this article was automatically compared with the meeting transcript.