GRAFTON – The appointment of an elementary school principal has drawn attention in Grafton.
After much discussion, the School Committee on July 30 voted, 4-1, to appoint Juliana Kessler Marcos as the new principal of South Grafton Elementary School. Importantly, the debate was not about Marcos personally – all School Committee members seemed excited for her to join the district – but rather how the hiring process was conducted.
In early July, Superintendent Jay Cummings had several conversations with former principal Melissa Wallace, who had served the district for four years in that role. Wallace had been dealing with personal issues, Cummings said, that were expected to worsen going forward. In an effort to support Wallace, Cummings offered her an interim Preschool Coordinator position – a role that she was interested in, allowed better work-life balance, and ultimately accepted…