MONTAGUE — An administrative reorganization in the Gill-Montague Regional School District for the next school year, which includes cutting the family engagement coordinator role, was approved by the School Committee this week.

This reorganization includes restructuring the Great Falls Middle School and Turners Falls High School Administrative Office, plus the Gill-Montague district’s Central Office.

Current part-time Family Engagement Coordinator Stacey Langknecht said Wednesday that she was notified of her position being cut last week by Gill-Montague Superintendent Brian Beck. Committee member Wendy Thompson inquired if Langknecht would pick up other responsibilities within the district during the Tuesday meeting, which Beck confirmed is not the case.

“It’s unfortunate that we’ll lose the family engagement coordinator,” School Committee Chair Jane Oakes said. “I want her to know how much we appreciate everything she did.”

The decision to restructure, Beck explained, comes in part from conversations with longtime staff members who said this new administrative structure could help the middle and high school offices run more smoothly. A head principal would have dedicated time for both schools, and two assistant principals, who would be focused on the middle school and high school, respectively, would work beneath him or her.

“The thing that they indicated to me was that the facility ran most smoothly when both buildings had at least one administrator and point person,” he explained.

The middle school assistant principal will work with grades six through eight, and the high school assistant principal will work with grades nine through 12. The dean of students will oversee the middle school exclusively. This replaces the current structure of having one principal, one assistant principal and one dean of students. There were previously two deans of students, but one of the two jobs is currently vacant.

The current structure of the Gill-Montague school district’s Central Office includes a pupil services director, the family engagement coordinator, one school nurse, and a director of teaching and learning. The plans to restructure keep the pupil services director while adding a part-time assistant pupil services and special projects liaison, as well as a part-time nurse. There were previously two full-time nurses, but one of those jobs is vacant at the moment.

Director of Teaching & Learning Heather Maynard’s position was cut in the fiscal year 2026 budget. A director of pupil services position will remain, and an assistant pupil services and special projects liaison will help manage out-of-district transportation and grant application responsibilities, which were previously taken care of by Maynard.

Business and Operations Director Joanne Blier said that in the Administrative Office restructure, there will be an increase of $20,136 to the original FY26 budget for the addition of the middle school assistant principal. The Central Office will have a reduction of $15,792 from the original $215,792 budget.

Though the School Committee ultimately approved the changes by majority vote, member Carol Jacobs reiterated her concerns over Maynard’s position not being reinstated and the responsibilities being dispersed to other staff.

“I do understand the grants piece, that’s important, but a curriculum director does so much more than that,” Jacobs said. “Somebody’s got to work with the teachers. Somebody’s got to make sure the grants get spent.”

Beck indicated more information about the restructuring will come before the School Committee during its June 24 meeting.

Interim superintendent search

On top of restructuring the offices, the School Committee approved the questions members will ask interim superintendent candidates as they prepare to interview three people in open session on Thursday, June 12, at 6 p.m. at Turners Falls High School.

The candidates to temporarily fill Beck’s position are Tari Thomas, who will interview at 6 p.m., Roland Joyal, who is on the schedule for 6:45 p.m. and Mark McLaughlin, whose interview will start at 7:30 p.m. Beck’s last day as superintendent is June 30.

Members deliberated on what questions they want to ask and who would ask the nine questions of the candidates. Oakes confirmed that each of the candidates previously served as interim superintendents at other area school districts.

Erin-Leigh Hoffman can be reached at ehoffman@recorder.com or 413-930-4231.