Head of Cambridge Schools Leaves Early

Cambridge Public Schools Superintendent Thomas D. Fowler-Finn’s announcement at Tuesday night’s school committee meeting that he would be stepping down this Friday—almost three months earlier than he had previously stated—came as a relief to some who work for the district.

Fowler-Finn said that his early exit was merely a matter of taking his vacation days and allowing a smooth transition for current Deputy Superintendent Carolyn L. Turk to preside over the year’s budget deliberations as interim superintendent.

“I’m not really leaving the school district now, I’m vacating my office,” Fowler-Finn said in an interview. “I’ll still be available to consult or assist in whatever way is necessary.”

School committee member Nancy Tauber said that the announcement “wasn’t a surprise” to the school committee since they had been “negotiating” with him since his 90-day resignation notice in September.

Committee member Patricia M. Nolan ’80 said that the committee became aware earlier this month that he was going to take his vacation days.

But some say that there are other reasons he is leaving earlier than Feb. 4, his previously scheduled last day.

A school department staff member said that “the school committee expedited having him exit before February” to prevent Fowler-Finn from having further power over decisions for the district, especially those regarding the renewal of school principal contracts.

“Many members approached the school committee about these worries,” said the staff member, who requested anonymity for job security reasons. “All the principals are weak...he would have the opportunity to renew contracts for people who clearly should not be renewed.”

Former school committee member Glenn S. Koocher ’71, however, said that most contracts were renewed last year and that he does not think they factor in Fowler-Finn’s early exit. Koocher—who is executive director of the Massachusetts Association of School Committees—added that the superintendent is legally entitled to his paid vacation time.

Nolan said that she thought that naming an interim superintendent now was a good way for the district to move forward while it continues to search for Fowler-Finn’s permanent replacement.

“I’ve thought we needed new leadership for a long time,” she said. “I look forward to getting a better leader for our district.”

Nolan opposed a motion to extend Fowler-Finn’s contract for this year, though it narrowly passed, 4-3, in the school committee last January.

Fowler-Finn, in a memo released to the public yesterday, lauded the Cambridge Public Schools staff as “the most talented and dedicated I have ever worked with.”

“What I know is that I’m not leaving the school system in the lurch,” he said in the statement. “I gave a lot of notice and there’s a very capable person and interim superintendent with a lot of experience.”

Turk, who will serve as superintendent until Feb. 4, was interim superintendent for the district in 2003 until Fowler-Finn was chosen by the school committee.

Fowler-Finn said he has worked closely with Turk during his time in the district.

“She works right across the hall from me and we’re great friends,” he said. “There are some supporters of hers who hope that she becomes the new superintendent.”

Nolan said that Turk is a candidate for the job. For her part, Turk said that “that’s not even something that I have made any sort of decision about at this point,” adding that she will focus on “the work that needs to happen between now and Feb. 4,” including the school district’s budget proposal.

After 38 years in education and 24 years in a superintendent position, Fowler-Finn said his plans for the future do not include another superintendent of schools position.

“There were opportunities there, and I just did not have an interest,” he said, adding that he is already the third most experienced superintendent in the state.

—Staff writer Vidya B. Viswanathan can be reached at viswanat@fas.harvard.edu.