Middleboro school superintendent contract extended through 2028

MIDDLEBORO — The contract of Superintendent of Schools Carolyn Lyons has been extended through 2028, School Committee members voted at the April 4 meeting.

Lyons will receive a 2 ½ percent pay increase starting July 1, bringing her salary to $197,953. An additional increase of 2 ½ percent will bring her compensation to $202,903 as of July 1, 2025. Her original contract was scheduled to end June 2025.

Increases in further years will reflect the same wage hike that teachers receive.

Committee chair Rich Young, who will be leaving the committee as of the April 6 town elections because he chose not to run again, said he had been tasked by the committee with negotiating a contract extension for Lyons.

Committee member Marcy Fregault voted against the contract extension and committee member Christopher Benson abstained from voting.

Members of the public wanted to speak after the contract extension was approved, but Young said that public comment was never allowed on personnel matters.

Although discussion of the contract extension was brief, messages written on signs taped to seats in the Middleboro High School auditorium appeared to reflect disagreement with the decision.

The messages included “Leadership and transparency,’’ “Our Kids Deserve Better’’ “How many more staff will we lose?’’ “What’s the rush?’’ and “You swore to be our voice, listen.’’

Lyons offered no comment on the contract extension.

Young was thanked by Lyons and fellow committee members for his 10 years of service on the committee.

He thanked the school district and the community at large for their support. He described serving on the committee as “a lot of fun.’’

As a final message, he noted that an important part of serving on the School Committee or any town board was “the ability to have conversations with other people and that you always work together. It always takes a majority to make a decision.’’