Reza Namin, Westbrook’s school superintendent, has accepted a new job as superintendent in the Spencer-East Brookfield Regional School District in central Massachusetts.

Namin told the School Committee and Westbrook schools’ faculty in an e-mail during the weekend that he has accepted the position, pending contract negotiations.

School Committee Chairman Ed Symbol said Monday that the news was not a surprise. Namin had told the committee earlier that he was looking for work in Massachusetts to be closer to his wife’s ailing father.

“His wife has been commuting back and forth, which put a strain on them,” said Symbol.

Namin, who emigrated to the United States during the Iranian Revolution of 1979, came to Westbrook from the Ralph C. Mahar Regional School District in Orange, Mass., two years ago.

Namin was also one of four finalists scheduled this week for interviews for the superintendent’s position in the Waltham, Mass., school district. He withdrew his name during the weekend, said Lisa Limonciello, chairwoman of the search committee in Waltham.

Enrollment in the Spencer-East Brookfield Regional School District is about 2,000 in four schools, compared with about 2,500 students in seven schools in Westbrook.

Namin is paid about $124,000 a year in Westbrook. Spencer-East Brookfield’s current superintendent is paid about $122,000, said Peter Rock, chairman of the Spencer-East Brookfield School Committee. Rock said the committee is now working to establish a pay level for Namin.

Rock said Namin was the unanimous choice among two finalists for the post.

Symbol said the Westbrook School Committee will set up a process to find a replacement for Namin in the weeks ahead.

Namin said he intends to work with the School Committee to make the transition as smooth as possible.

“My goal is to make sure there is a successful transition,” he said.

Namin’s new job begins in July.

 

Staff Writer Beth Quimby can be contacted at 791-6363 or at:
bquimby@pressherald.com

 

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