CHATHAM – A search is underway for a new Monomoy Regional Middle School principal.

 Abby Dudley, who served as principal since 2023, has taken a position in the central office of the Barnstable School system, according to Monomoy Superintendent Robin Millen.

 While the search to replace Dudley is underway, Sean Duffy, assistant principal since 2023, will lead the school on an interim basis, Millen said.

 A 16-member search committee, including educators, community members and parents and caregivers, is currently reviewing resumes submitted for the position. Interviews with a half dozen or so candidates were scheduled to start Tuesday, Millen said. After that process, the search committee is expected to forward three or four finalists to Millen, who will do final interviews and choose a new principal.

 Although she hopes to have a new principal in place “sooner rather than later,” Millen said she will take her time to ensure that the school ends up with the best candidate.

 “I’m not rushing this process,” she said. “It’s too important.”

 Dutch will serve at least through Oct. 15, perhaps longer, depending when the chosen candidate is able to transition into the new position.

 “We needed a building leader here to open school,” Millen said of the decision to name Dutch as interim principal. Classes at the middle school begin Tuesday, Sept. 1.

Meanwhile, work has continued on replacing siding, trim and windows at the Crowell Road school. Crews have been working 12-hour shifts and on Saturdays, Millen said. Most of the work will be completed by the time school starts, although some classrooms will remain closed as final work is done, she said.

The school’s main gym will also be closed after the discovery of mold in an interior wall. Replacement of the wall won’t be completed until December. In the meantime, students will use the smaller “slim gym” for physical education classes, Millen said. 

 She added that parents, caregivers, students and community members are invited to an ice cream social at Monomoy High School, located on Oak Street in Harwich, on Thursday, Aug. 27 at 3 p.m. 

The Monomoy Regional School District has received a grant to help implement a program to strengthen literacy among students in pre-kindergarten through third grade. 

The state awarded the district a $197,500 grant as part of the Partnership for Reading Success – Massachusetts PRISM II program, which focuses on strengthening literacy instruction through curriculum and materials selection, educator professional development, and focused coaching. 

 Monomoy received an initial PRISM grant of $97,000 last year, which was used to conduct an early literacy strengths/needs assessment; develop an early literacy vision beyond the schools and into the community; and form and deepen collaborative partnerships with community-based preschool providers. The grant also allowed Monomoy to establish a multi-year plan for providing professional development for educators, as well as for community preschool providers, satisfying an explicit goal in the district’s strategic plan.

“Early literacy is a key component of lifelong learning and academic success,” Monomoy Superintendent Robin A. Millen said in a press release. “The PRISM II grant funding will allow us to broaden our capacity to help ensure that every Monomoy preschool student has a strong foundation in reading and writing, which will enable them to reach their full potential in all areas." 

Monomoy was one of 71 school districts across the state to be awarded PRISM grant funding.