Southampton School Committee Names Interim Chair as Two Long-Serving Members Depart

SOUTHAMPTON -- May 13, 2026, Southampton School Committee names interim chair and accepts nearly $9,100 PTO gift at final meeting for two outgoing members. The committee unanimously appointed member Jen Johnson as interim chair effective May 19 at 8 p.m., when outgoing Chair Kim Larson and Member Margaret Schott complete their terms after a combined roughly 24 years of service. The board also voted unanimously to accept a $9,080.90 gift from the Parent-Teacher Organization, the unspent remainder of a back-the-budget fundraiser run on the Zeffy platform after last year's failed override eliminated classroom supply funding at William E. Norris School. Superintendent Vito Carlin noted that DESE is distributing resources through its SAIP Schools program to support LGBTQ students across districts. The committee took a first read of a draft personal electronic device policy and voted to send it to legal counsel for guidance on bus coverage and medical exemption language before a second read in June. The panel also renewed its $400-per-month retainer with Duperry Law Offices and entered executive session on collective bargaining strategy with the Southampton Teachers Association, not returning to public session.