MONSON — Superintendent Cheryl Clarke announced during the March 27 School Committee meeting that she had accepted the resignations of Monson High School Principal Arthur Murphy and Assistant Principal Kate Czarniecki earlier that day.
In a note sent to Monson families two weeks prior, Clarke had stated that Murphy and Czarniecki were “out” and that she and Counselor Maria Barnes had taken over maintaining daily operations at the high school while Murphy and Czarniecki were unavailable. Clarke later confirmed with Reminder Publishing that the students had not been impacted by the transition and were “happy and supported.”
Murphy started as principal at Monson High School in July 2023, after previously working as a principal, teacher and assistant principal at Gardner Middle School.
Murphy also briefly worked as an assistant principal at Southbridge Middle School, Lee reported.
A longtime resident of Monson, Czarniecki graduated from Monson schools and has held “a variety of roles” during her 10 years with the district, she stated at the Jan. 6, 2022, School Committee meeting.
The application for a new high school principal at Monson was posted on March 29 shortly after the resignation announcement.
It is available to view on the Monson Public Schools website under employment.
As of press time, an application for an assistant principal position had not yet been posted online.
According to the fiscal year 2025 budget approved on March 27, this position was recommended by administration to be modified to a dean of students and director of counseling position for the next school year.
Both position applications will be seeking candidates for the next school year, School Committee Chair Emily Graves-Harrison told Reminder Publishing.
