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LEICESTER, Mass. — The Leicester School Committee thanked Superintendent Paul Soojian and bid him farewell Tuesday night at what might be his final school committee meeting after 23 years as an educator in Leicester.
Soojian, who will retire at the end of December, will be succeeded by Judith Paolucci, who is currently the superintendent in Yarmouth, Maine.
After working with the superintendent search committee to narrow the pool of 30 applicants, the school committee voted unanimously to offer the position to Paolucci on Saturday afternoon.
Paolucci comes with excellent credentials from one of the top-performing school districts in Maine, School Committee Chairman Scott Broskey said.
"We just started the process of contract negotiations, and with any luck that goes well and we will be able to sign her on," he said.
If Paolucci accepts the position, then Soojian will stay on for a time to help her with the transition.
Broskey also thanked Soojian for everything he has done for the district's children and its schools.
"God knows everything the schools have gone through, and you've always been there, and you've gone the extra distance," Broskey said. "I can't say enough about the work that you've done."
With all the hours that Soojian has put in for the the district, it got its money's worth out of the superintendent, School Committee member Mark Armington said.
"You really do a yeoman's job," said Armington. "It was good working with you."
Grateful for the kind words, Soojian said he considered it a privilege and an honor "to have worked in a district that cares so much about kids."
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