School Committee tabs Folan as interim superintendent

By Mike Berger

Pending negotiations on a new contract, Assistant Superintendent Derek Folan will formally assume the position of interim superintendent of the Canton Public Schools sometime in the next few weeks, replacing outgoing Superintendent Dr. Jennifer Fischer-Mueller.

Derek Folan

School Committee Chair Kristian Merenda anticipates that Folan could take the helm as soon as July 30 with Fischer-Mueller expected to leave sometime in late August after a transition period and completion of vacation and personal days.

Fischer-Mueller, who has served in the role for the past five years, announced last month that she would be leaving the district to head up Trust Early Learners, a new early education school and enrichment program that is set to open this fall in Brookline.

Folan, meanwhile, is set to resume a position he held for a stretch in late 2020 and early 2021 — during the height of the coronavirus pandemic — while Fischer-Mueller was out on medical leave.

The School Committee, meeting in person last Thursday for the first time since March of 2020, was enthusiastic about Folan’s appointment and his work as both assistant superintendent and interim superintendent during the past school year, and before that, as principal of Canton High School from 2012 to 2020.

Committee member Chuck Rae, who also serves as a Canton police lieutenant, said many residents had contacted him to lend their support to Folan’s appointment.

Asked after the meeting if he intends to apply for the permanent position, Folan replied, “I have a sincere and enthusiastic interest in the permanent superintendent position, but I want to focus on the present and serve the school community well as we enter this school year. I am deeply honored to be named the interim superintendent.”

The committee wants to give Folan some time to immerse himself in the job and see if both sides want to pursue a permanent appointment. Merenda said at some point in the fall, the committee will decide whether a search committee should be formed to look for a new permanent superintendent. Outgoing School Business Administrator Barry Nectow, probably sitting at his last meeting before beginning his retirement, was asked about the length of the previous superintendent search and Nectow said the entire process, from formation of the search committee to the appointment of Fischer-Mueller, lasted approximately six months.

In accepting the interim position, Folan told the School Committee that he is very committed to the job and thanked them for the opportunity to lead the Canton schools. Now in his 10th year in the system, Folan said he has fallen in love with the district and the community and believes he has a superb teaching, administrative, and central office team. He also thanked Fischer-Mueller and Nectow for their mentorship and friendship.

Merenda said it will be Folan’s prerogative to name an interim assistant superintendent when he begins his new post …

See this week’s Citizen to continue reading and for more highlights from the July 8 School Committee meeting. Not a subscriber? Click here to order your subscription today.

Share This Post

Short URL: https://www.thecantoncitizen.com/?p=75703