At the end of the two-hour Waterville Board of Education meeting a few days before Christmas, newly hired WCS Superintendent Dr. Jennifer Spring showed she was ready to get to work.
The meeting, conducted remotely, ended with board members voting unanimously to hire Spring with an agreed-upon three-year contract and salary of $160,000. Her duties as superintendent began Jan. 4, with Interim Superintendent Dr. Kathy Davis finishing her five months with the district the day before.
When Spring was asked after her appointment was official to come by the district to take the Oath of Office, she said no need. Spring, whose time as superintendent of the Cohoes City School District ended Dec. 1, had the oath ready to go and promptly stood and recited it.
Board members wrapped up their 2020 meeting schedule with a jam-packed two hours that also included delaying the in-person restart of school until at least next week and trying to set a direction for winter sports. No decision was made on sports and the discussion will continue at the board’s next meeting Jan. 12.
Board members thanked Davis for her time with the district, which started in August. “You got a lot more than you bargained for,’’ said board member Mark Mowrey.
Board President Steve Stanton, in expressing his gratitude to Davis, said Davis, “has been fit for the moment for us.’’
Waterville’s first attempt last spring at finding a replacement for retired Superintendent Chuck Chafee was unsuccessful. Spring was one of about 15 applicants and the only finalist.
Prior to voting to hire Spring, board members spent about 35 minutes in executive session. After the two-hour public session, board members met again in executive session regarding a legal matter.
Because of the surge in Covid-19 cases and number of students and staff who had to be quarantined from Thanksgiving gatherings, Davis said she anticipated the same from the Christmas break. Waterville stopped in-person classes prior to the break as up to 64 employees and several classrooms were quarantined.
Davis said she has a concern coming back in January too…
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