Former Superintendent James F. Scully with Mayor James J. Fiorentini at Salisbury Beach this past summer. (Courtesy photograph.)
Former Haverhill School Superintendent James F. Scully is switching sides in his long educational career.
Instead of reporting to a local body, superintendents will report to him and the rest of the Triton Regional School District School Committee. Salisbury Board of Selectmen Monday named Scully as the town’s representative to the committee. The district serves, serving Newbury, Rowley and Salisbury. Reached Wednesday night, Scully said he is “thrilled.”
“It was so refreshing to see a board where everyone was respectful,” Scully said. He was first interviewed last Wednesday by a subcommittee of four selectmen and two school committee members. He fills a vacancy created by the resignation of Monique Greilich, which takes effect Oct. 1.
During the interview with selectmen Monday, Scully said his “role is to be respectful listen and do what is right and help the community.” Haverhill’s former superintendent was suggested as someone that understands school budgets, and has the ability to look out for the interests of the towns.
For Scully, the appointment brings him full circle. He explained he was offered his first teaching job in 1970 in Newbury elementary schools, but he accepted another offer.
Scully has been a Salisbury resident since 2009. He worked in Lawrence public schools from 1970 to 1998, eventually serving more than 10 years as superintendent there. He went on to work on special projects for Holy Family Hospital and was named principal of Haverhill’s Consentino School in 2003. Coming out of his first retirement in 2010, he was tapped as Haverhill school superintendent and served until his retirement last June.