Cohasset School Committee Unanimously Appoints New Assistant Superintendent From Duxbury

COHASSET -- April 15, 2026, Cohasset School Committee unanimously appointed a new assistant superintendent and authorized a solar energy procurement process at its April 15 meeting. The five-member board voted 5-0 to appoint Dr. Elizabeth (Beth) Wilcox, currently assistant superintendent at Duxbury Public Schools, following a search that drew 38 applicants and included public stakeholder forums; Superintendent Dr. Sarah Shannon noted a finalized contract is in place for a summer transition as outgoing Assistant Superintendent Dr. Leslie Scollins retires. The board also voted 5-0 to authorize the Alternative Energy Committee to issue a Request for Proposals for solar arrays at the Joseph Osgood and Deer Hill schools, with presenter Tanya Bodell citing a July 4 letter-of-intent deadline needed to preserve a 30 percent federal investment tax credit. Finance Director Susan Owen reported the FY26 operating budget stood at 99.99 percent committed as of late March, with just $1,039 in uncommitted funds, offset by approximately $55,460 in salary savings and a $12,097 turnaround in the athletics account. The committee voted to reschedule its required School Choice public hearing to 5:45 p.m. on May 6, ahead of the June 1 statutory deadline, after Secretary Lance Dial raised a procedural question about whether the hearing should be held separately from a regular session.