Wayland School Committee approves statement naming Fleischman permanent superintendent

WAYLAND — November 14, 2024 — Wayland School Committee unanimously releases statement appointing David Fleischman permanent superintendent. The 5-0 vote at a Nov. 14 special meeting capped a session devoted almost entirely to line-editing the draft announcement, which cites "overwhelmingly positive feedback" on Fleischman's leadership and roughly 69 percent support in a community survey. Member Betsy Cullen pushed to soften "hard conversations" to language about "eagerness to listen and willingness to engage with challenging topics," while Christina Rodrigo replaced "bridge divides" with "bring people together," saying she preferred "drawing circles around people." Erin Mueller, who drafted the statement, warned colleagues against trying to "address every concern under the sun" as members debated adding a facilities-planning sentence. Mueller will distribute the announcement through the district newsletter, Facebook and union channels. Kate Sambuco and Erin Gibbons also voted yes.