Attleboro May Need a New Super; Hunt for New Middle School Vice Principals Ongoing

On Thursday, Attleboro Superintendent Pia Durkin will learn whether she will be the next superintendent of Lowell schools. Durkin is one of five finalists for superintendent selected by the Lowell School Committee. If Durkin is selected and accepts the position, she will begin in her new role in July. 

Durkin has been Attleboro's superintendent since 2006. She remains positive about her experience in Attleboro, despite the many clashes with the Attleboro School Committee, which included personal attacks over the social network, and a vote against the

Durkin did not blame any of the back and forth banter with the school committee as a reason for applying to the same position with another district. 

"I absolutely love my work in Attleboro,” Durkin said. “It’s a great opportunity that I just couldn’t pass up."

 Durkin said she will remain focused on her current position in Attleboro, regardless of the status of her Lowell application.

Durkin’s possible move to lead a different Bay State school district did not come as a surprise to school committee member Teri Enegren, who said that Durkin had not requested a contract extension past June 2012.

“Having not sent that letter (of intent), I am not surprised that she is seeking a position in another school,” Enegren said.

Enegren said she believes that Lowell is a good opportunity for Durkin.

Lowell currently serves more than 13,000 students occupying 12 elementary schools, six middle schools, two pre-kindergarten through eighth-grade schools and one high school. In comparison, Attleboro serves around 6,000 students with five elementary schools, three middle schools and one high school.

“Lowell, being a large city, would be a nice challenge for Dr. Durkin,” Enegren said. “It appears to me that she enjoys taking on challenging positions.”

“I think the loss of Dr. Durkin would be unfortunate for our school system and the City of Attleboro,” Levinson said. “I believe that she has been a strong leader and that our school system has made some great strides during her tenure.

“I understand that this is a very good opportunity for Dr. Durkin and do not fault her for applying for the position in Lowell,” Levinson added.

If Lowell chooses to offer Durkin the position and she accepts, the school committee will have to begin its own superintendent search to find a replacement. The city will also be tasked with finding a replacement for Vice Principal Mark Donnelly andVice Principal Patricia Knox, who are retiring early. The hunt for their successors is ongoing.

Donnelly and Knox would not comment on their reason for early retirement. 

“Attleboro has many, many qualified administrators, so I think Attleboro will be able to move forward with (finding) a new superintendent,” Enegren said.