Superintendent reports special-education director resignation, staff retirements; board approves hiring of new teacher and welcomes new member

Superintendent Dr. Foley told the Winthrop School Board that Sue Fawcett, the district’s director of special education, has resigned effective Feb. 13 for health reasons and that Holly Stoneton, the district’s gifted and talented teacher, will retire at the end of the school year after 5½ years of service. Dr. Foley thanked them both for their service and welcomed Jason Burnham as a newly seated board member for a three-year term.

The board voted to employ Patrick Hasson as a middle-school social studies teacher after the superintendent described Hasson’s student-teaching completion and strengths in rapport and communication. That motion was seconded and carried. The transcript does not record a roll-call tally; the board announced the motion carried.

No search process details or interim leadership plans for the special-education director position were presented in the meeting record; the superintendent noted only the resignation effective date and expressed appreciation for Fawcett’s service. The meeting also included recognition of student-athlete Drew Mertzel as the Class C individual state golf champion and remarks from his coach Lonnie Steeves and Mertzel himself.