The Warwick School Committee won’t name a new superintendent this week. That much appears certain following the announcement of committee chair Jennifer Ahearn last week that the post of superintendent would be addressed at the next scheduled committee meeting July 14.

If that’s the case, committee action would come a day after Superintendent Richard D’Agostino retires.

Meanwhile, the committee is wrestling with a multitude of issues, including a $6.9 million cut in its budget request by the mayor and City Council; a consolidation of schools in response to declining enrollment; a teachers’ contract that expires before the opening of school this fall; and a report on how the school administration handled an incident where a Gorton science teacher drew a penis on the arm of a female student.

During the committee meeting last Tuesday, Ahearn read a statement regarding that investigation.

“The School Committee has received several recommendations as a result of the investigation completed by Mr. [Vincent] Ragosta. As an outcome of several of these recommendations, the School Committee has separated both the legal and human resource role in our district. The School Committee had voted, last Thursday [June 4], to hire Mr. [Andrew] Henneous to oversee the legal responsibilities within our school department. Additionally, further recommendations were made concerning policy and contract language reform with the goal of raising awareness of personal conduct with both teachers and students to protect the welfare of our students. These reform items will be addressed by our committee, with Mr. Henneous’ future recommendations, as we continue to analyze the investigation and recommendations and move through this process.”

Adding to the intrigue, which has fueled rumors and even an online campaign for the committee to reopen its search for a superintendent, Ahearn has refused to disclose how many candidates are in the running for the top job or who they are. With D’Agostino’s retirement – he had been in the running – the word on the street is that the committee is left with one candidate, Dr. Anthony Pope. Pope has worked for a number of school districts. The Marlborough, Mass. School Committee prematurely ended his employment as superintendent, buying him out of his contract.

Speculation that Pope is the last candidate standing prompted Mayor Scott Avedisian to call on the committee to reopen the search. Committee member Karen Bachus likewise has called for a new search. Meanwhile, Vets teacher Ken Genereux has scoured the Internet, posting links about Pope’s controversial career to Facebook.

“We haven’t discussed reopening the search,” committee vice chairman Eugene Nadeau said during a phone interview yesterday.

Although on his way out, D’Agostino said yesterday the district would soon start talks with the Warwick Teachers Union over their contract. The union entered into a one-year agreement last year after failing to reach agreement on a longer contract. Talks have not been held since then, nor has a date been established for the two sides to meet.

But there has been a change.

Rosemary Healey, who up until recently held dual positions of director of human resources and legal counsel, is now responsible only for human resources. Attorney Andrew Henneous, who joined the committee on stage at the last meeting at Toll Gate High School, is legal counsel and will be involved in negotiations. He will be paid $175 per hour.

“Most legal counsels work on a part-time basis with an hourly rate,” Nadeau said.

Collective bargaining will be discussed in a negotiating workshop to be held in an executive session of the committee June 24.

“We’ll start negotiations and see what changes we’re proposing,” Nadeau said. “We haven’t started talking with the union yet. First we’ll discuss it among the five of us with Mr. Henneous.”

Nadeau said he hopes to begin discussions with the union during the first week of July.

“Mr. Henneous has handled many negotiations with school committees. He’s a new voice that hasn’t been heard, but he’s done it for other school systems,” he said. “He’s a bright, young man who’s up to date and knows what he’s doing.”

Asked if Healey would take a cut in pay now that she is no longer legal counsel, D’Agosinto said, “I believe Rosemary was doing two jobs for the price of one.” He likened Healey’s situation to his own when he filled the position of superintendent while also working as director of special education for about 18 months.

D’Agostino disclosed that committee member Beth Furtado is taking on the task of coordinating the committee’s decision to close Gorton and Aldrich Junior High Schools and consolidate them at Vets High. Vets students would be split between Toll Gate and Pilgrim, thereby leaving the city with two high schools and two middle schools.

D’Agostino said that process started Monday when Furtado met with department directors. All three schools – Gorton, Aldrich and Vets – would close at the end of the 2016 academic year with the reopening of Vets as a middle school at the start of the 2017 academic year.

“We have a year to put it into effect. Hopefully we can make all three moves at the same time,” Nadeau said. “If we find out that it’s doable, with the new people on board, and administrators tell us we can accomplish this, we’ll move accordingly.”

School closures are obviously an emotional topic, but Nadeau said hopefully the anger will diminish and people will recognize this is the next step to be taken.

“The benefit of having the consultant is the public has realized and accepted that we have to close schools,” he said. “It’s going to hurt; nobody ever wants a school to close.”

Closing one of the junior high schools this year, as mentioned as a possibility, is not in the cards.

“You get to a certain date and it’s no longer feasible,” D’Agostino said, “and we’re past that point.”

He estimated the closures would save the district in excess of $4 million annually. Also, he thought upgrades to Vets would not be anywhere near the $15 million once projected. He said the school needs a new boiler and that the auditorium should be upgraded with improved seating and lighting, but that the roof, which was just replaced, is solid. He thought that upgrades should also be made to Pilgrim to put it on a par with Toll Gate. In particular, he cited the auditorium and lockers.

Nadeau said the work of planning consultant Symmes Maini & McKee Associates (SMMA), the firm hired to come up with two long-term education and facility master plans for the district, has not ended and that the committee plans to continue working with them.

“Their judgment is needed,” he said, adding, “I don’t know for how long.”

As for balancing the budget, D’Agostino said, “We’re at a point where we can’t cut anymore.” He said the department is looking to layoff the maximum 20 teachers allowable by contract as well as replacing some of the repairs to be paid out of the operating budget with bond funds.

The city level funded schools at $119.6 million.

And while the budget is an issue, D’Agostino said the department is still pursuing a program to give all students a Chromebook.

“We’re trying to figure out a way of addressing it,” he said.

Nadeau said the budget would have to be addressed quickly.

“It’s not an easy situation,” he said. “There was a lot of money proposed, so now we have to go back and reduce the 15 percent of the budget [not determined by salary and benefit costs]. There’s not much room; it will hurt to see the cuts.”

Nadeau said he hopes and expects the budget will be addressed at the July 14 meeting.