New Melrose Superintendent Is Pulling Double Duty In Trying Times

MELROSE, MA — School budget season is always a challenging time. Transitioning between superintendents has its potholes, too.

Doing both in the midst of a global pandemic that has schools closed indefinitely and muddles the financial picture beyond recognition is a rancid cherry on top.

Julie Kukenberger knows, because it's exactly what she's doing. Twice. At the same time.

Kukenberger, the incoming superintendent of Melrose Public Schools, is working to get comfortable in the district before taking over for Cyndy Taymore, whose retirement becomes official June 30. Until then, she's helping Kukenberger learn the ropes under less-than-desirable circumstances.

It's the same role Kukenberger is playing for her successor in the Hamilton-Wenham Regional School District, where she remains interim superintendent until July 1.

"I'm the kind of person that I'll be working full-on with Hamilton-Wenham until my very last day," Kukenberger told Patch. "Part of what I'm doing is preparing to position their super to the district. At the same time Cyndy has been so gracious. She brought me up to speed. She's been fantastic."

The School Committee selected Kukenberger among three finalists in March. (One finalist, Assistant Superintendent in Revere Joshua Vadala, accepted the Peabody job the evening before.) Since then, Kukenberger has been talking to whoever she can and digesting as much information as possible about Melrose. At the same time, she's trying to position her successor in an equally fluid situation in Hamilton-Wenham.

Kukenberger inherited a $600,000 budget deficit when she took the interim tag in the regional school district. She was prepared to leave the district in a good spot — now it looks like she'll be leaving it in the wake of the same tough choices districts across the country face.

"We're trying to make the best of the worst decisions," Kukenberger said.

In Melrose, Taymore and the School Committee are still the driving force behind those decisions, but Kukenberger will be participating in weekly financial meetings between city and school leaders. She hopes to be involved in some other decisions, like filling a couple of principal vacancies.

"These times are far from typical, and we have already begun to bring Dr. Kukenberger up to speed in a more formal way on a number of pressing matters, most of which revolve around our planning for next year’s budget," School Committee Chair Ed O'Connell told Patch. "At the same time, we have to be mindful that Dr. Kukenberger continues to be otherwise employed until July 1, and her current school district is facing the same types of challenges, fiscal and otherwise, as Melrose."

Kukenberger welcomes the dual challenge — "I'm super excited," she said — but wouldn't mind skipping ahead to when she can not only focus solely on Melrose, but also has a comprehensive grasp on the district.

"It's hard to be emotionally available for two whole districts and to be fully present," she said. "It's another layer added to this ... You have to spread yourself pretty thin. This job as superintendent is tricky on a good day."

Kukenberger remains grounded in pragmatism. She knows no one expects her to have all the answers on Day 1. Right now, after all, there aren't many answers to be had.

"It's one day at a time, right?" she said. "We're trying to make the best, most informed decisions while trying to stay flexible because it's evolving every day."

For now, the priorities are the same for her as everyone else. People staying healthy, the community coming together and navigating a way out of this crisis.

"That's on the forefront of my mind, but I'm trying to keep it all in balance," she said. "One thing at a time."