Watertown Assistant Superintendent Spot Filled, Search for Other Posts Begin

Darilyn Donovan had the interim removed from her title Monday night when the School Committee appointed her the assistant superintendent.

The former Lowell School principal served as the interim second in command during the 2011-12 school year while Jean Fitzpatrick served as interim superintendent. .

Donovan will receive a salary of $124,000, said School Committee Chairwoman Eileen Hsu-Balzer. Her position was filled in an expedited internal search in which no search committee was formed and the post was posted only in the Watertown Public Schools. Interim Human Resources Director Ray Shurtleff said that was .

With Donovan officially leaving her post at the Lowell (she had been on leave from the position this year) the district must fill the principal position. 

Fitzgerald recommended a quick search to fill the Lowell job. Currently, Elizabeth Kaplan is the interim principal, having previously taught at Watertown Middle School.

"I recommend we waive the screening committee and appoint a permanent position," Fitzgerald said. "(By doing so) we will have a principal at the end of the school year, so everybody goes home and knows who the principal is." 

Fitzgerald will make a recommendation to the School Committee for the Lowell principal. The Committee meets next on June 20 at 6:30 p.m. at the .

The district also has an opening for principal at the Cunniff School. Cynthia Crimmin announced last week .

An interim principal will be appointed soon, Fitzgerald said, adn the person will serve for a year while school officials do a full search for Cunniff's next principal.