Upper Merion Names Callaghan New School Superintendent

According to The Times Herald, the Upper Merion School Board voted 7-2 Monday night to officially name Jane Callaghan as Upper Merion Area School District's new superintendent. Callaghan had been filling in as acting superintendent since Melissa Jamula stepped down in September.

School board members Fran Littlewood and Michelle Barainyak reportedly voted no, but expressed that it was more a protest of the process rather than a commentary on Callaghan's suitability for the post.

"By no means does my vote no for the current superintendent reflect the fact that I will not support her and her team 150 percent going forward," said Littlewood, according the Herald. "In the end, I feel that Jane could be and might be our best candidate and I do appreciate what [she’s] done and I will support [her] going forward, but I do not appreciate the process in which we got here."

"I was given 19 days to look at a contract and make a decision and being brand new on this board," said Barainyak, according to the Herald. "I don’t think I could do justice for the public or for the teachers or for the students until I really dive into it and figure out what it was. I don’t want anyone here to think that I don’t think [Callaghan] is doing a great job, because she is and I would vote for her in a minute if I was given more time."

According to the Herald, Callaghan's previous experience as assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction was key to her being chosen to take over the position.

"The role of a superintendent has been changing over the last three years due to No Child Left Behind and due to Act One in Pennsylvania," Board Member Thad Radzanowski told the Herald. "No longer are we actually looking for a manager for our district. We are looking for a manager who knows something about curriculum or about finances."

Read more about the district's new superintendent here.

---

Related Story

Upper Merion Expected to Name New School Superintendent on Monday