Melican named as interim Tahanto Regional superintendent

Robert Melican
(Globe staff photo by Janet Knott)

BERLIN/BOYLSTON

The Tahanto Regional School Committee has unanimously named Robert Melican as the district’s interim superintendent while they search for a permanent replacement for Marcia Lukon, who leaves June 30.

The committee has also enlisted the New England School Development Council to conduct the search, said Chris Keefe, vice-chairman of the regional school committee and chairman of the Berlin School Committee. Keefe said the committee hopes to start the search in the fall.

The terms of Melican’s contract are in negotiations, but Keefe said the committee would like him to start by June 30. Melican retired two years ago after 36 years with the Northborough-Southborough schools and previously served as an interim superintendent in Douglas.

Lukon, who was hired in 2003, declined to accept a new contract from the committee. She has been criticized for her budget process and the Boylston Teachers Association hit her with a no confidence vote last year.

-- Jennifer Rosinski