Having served as interim and then acting superintendent of schools during the personal leave granted to Lynn Dambruch, the School Committee voted unanimously on Tuesday to name William McCaffrey superintendent effective July 1.

There was no discussion leading up to the vote, nor did McCaffrey make any comment. Committee Chairman Shaun Galligan said “congratulations” following the vote and the committee moved quickly on to the next agenda item. During the public comment portion of the meeting Darlene Netcoh, president of the Warwick Teachers Union offered her congratulations, saying she looks forward to working together.

In an interview after the meeting, McCaffrey put straightening out the department’s finances, a focus of community debate since the first of the year when it was revealed schools were headed toward a $9 million operating deficit, as a priority.

Asked what he sees as the immediate task, he said, “Shore up the finances and address those concerns.”

With Craig Enos, who left the East Providence District to come to Warwick this month as school finance director, plus the rest of the team, McCaffrey said, “We have a first-class finance department.” He said the staff is working well with the School Budget Commission, created by Mayor Frank Picozzi and legislatively approved by the General Assembly when the issue of the operating deficit and prior deficits came to light.

Split-level classes a concern

Efforts to trim school expenses in the upcoming budget, however, are already raising concerns. At Tuesday’s meeting parents and teachers warned of the dangers of split-level classes, in which the class of one teacher is split between two grades in elementary schools. They noted that split-level classes had been used in the past and didn’t work. They questioned the impact on students being taught alongside those above or below their grade level, and on teachers faced with teaching different curricula within one class.

McCaffrey said it is “premature” to talk about split-level classes in the upcoming academic year. At this point, he said, the department is looking at 171 elementary classes, of which five would be split classes. He said the department would have a clearer picture in August once the department has a better grip on enrollment.

“We have not finalized scheduling … we are looking at enrollment data daily and will be making  decisions through the  summer,” he said.

29 years in Warwick schools

 Son of the late Warwick Mayor Eugene McCaffrey, William McCaffrey has worked in Warwick schools nearly 29 years. He started as a business teacher at Pilgrim High School, later teaching at Toll Gate. During his school career he transitioned to administration as assistant principal at Gorton Junior High and later at as assistant principal at Vets High School. He settled into a ten year stretch as the director of the Warwick Area Career and Technical Center before moving into administrative offices. He was director of secondary schools during Lynn Dambruch’s tenue and then named interim superintendent when she was granted personal leave early this spring.

Dambruch, who like McCaffrey has had a long career in Warwick schools, retires at the end of this month.

It appeared obvious McCaffrey would succeed Dambruch or at least remain in the acting position for a period. The committee did not publicly discuss a search nor did it post the position. Asked about the terms of his contract, McCaffrey said negotiations have yet to take place.

“I’m just happy doing what I’m doing and helping the district,” he said.

Asked why there hadn’t been a search for a superintendent, Galligan wrote in a statement Wednesday, "The School Committee made the decision not to conduct an external or internal search for the superintendent role because we had a strong, proven leader already in place. Over the past several months, Mr. William McCaffrey has demonstrated exceptional leadership as assistant superintendent during a challenging period. His steady handling of day-to-day operations, deep understanding of our district, and commitment to addressing areas of improvement made him the clear choice."

Galligan continued, "I will be meeting with Mr. McCaffrey in the coming days to discuss my top priorities or concerns, and I encourage my colleagues to do the same. Though, Mr. McCaffrey's long standing service to the district and institutional knowledge allow him to move forward without delay. Personally, I would like to see enhanced fiscal management, while identifying general operating cost reduction opportunities, without impacting student needs or achievement."

Plans to be accessible

McCaffrey has worked with multiple superintendents. He singled out Domenic DiLuglio and Robert Shapiro as being held in high esteem for their focus on students. He said both attended virtually every school event and were accessible to parents and students, attributes he intends to emulate.

McCaffrey, 54, is married and lives with this wife, Heather, and three children in Scituate. As he said during budget discussions, the School Department is the largest of city departments, affecting 28,000 people daily – students, parents and its staff of 1,400 employees.

McCaffrey’s appointment was news to Mayor Picozzi.

In a text Wednesday morning the mayor  wrote, “I have known him a long time and like him very much. He knows the system and is very well regarded. I think that he will do a great job.”

-Ward 5 Councilman and chair of the council’s finance committee, Ed Ladouceur lauded the appointment. Ladouceur who has pushed to straighten out school finances, thinks McCaffrey should have been named to the post sooner.