Short move took a big-time effort

It wasn’t a move of great distance but one of great logistics.

The relocation of the School Department’s offices from the E.B. Newton School to Town Hall took a lot of planning and execution by Town Manager James McKenna, but the Big Move is complete and Interim Superintendent of Schools Dr. Joseph Lisi likes his new home in Metcalf Square.

Lisi doesn’t have a lot of comparative notes to go on. Appointed in late August as the school year started, he spent just three days in the former offices before he and his entire staff began their move to nearby Town Hall.

“Things are going well here,” said Lisi, whose corner office is located on the top floor overlooking the Cummings School and the square. “We have the offices pretty much set up and it’s business as usual.”

Lisi has a private office and a conference table to meet with school-related visitors or his leadership team. Business and finance manager Kevin Meagher also has a top-floor office. Administrative assistant Patty Hames has a location adjacent to the superintendent’s office.

On the first floor (basement level), manager of student records and registration coordinator Judi Buono, director of educational technology Vinnie Ruocco, and curriculum coordinator Coni Moore have their school department offices.

Lisi said School Department employees have been parking their vehicles in a nearby lot in order to make additional spaces in the town hall parking lot available for visitors to town hall.

CONTRACT UPDATE

Interim Superintendent of Schools Dr. Joseph Lisi said school officials are trying to arrange another mediation session with the Winthrop Teachers Association (WTA), whose members are in their third school year without a contract.

“I still hold out hope that both parties can come together and get this contract resolved,” said Lisi. “We are in the process of scheduling another mediation session.”

Lisi and the School Committee met with WTA representatives at a six-and-half-hour mediation session on Sept. 26. “I got home at 1:30 a.m. and I was here the next morning at 7,” said Lisi, who has made a contract resolution a priority since being appointed superintendent at the start of the school year.