The School Committee reported on Oct. 22 that the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education denied the committee’s waiver request to extend Superintendent John Dale’s term for the 2026–27 school year.

In the chair’s report the committee said the commissioner “recognized the challenges” the district cited but declined the waiver, citing policy and process. The chair said alternatives under discussion include negotiating an agreement with the superintendent outside of the waiver process; the committee plans to meet with counsel and the superintendent in the coming weeks to explore options.

The committee said it will hold an executive session on Nov. 5 to consider any proposed agreement; if the parties reach an agreement the committee said it could discuss and vote in public session on that date, otherwise the committee will discuss next steps for a superintendent search. The chair framed the denial as procedural and said the committee will continue to seek leadership stability for the district.

No formal vote was taken at this meeting to change the superintendent’s status; the committee described next steps and scheduled the Nov. 5 executive session.