Springfield school board meets Feb. 20 to pick acting superintendent

The Springfield Public Schools Board of Education meets at 5 p.m. Friday, Feb. 20, in the district boardroom at 640 A. St., downtown Springfield, to interview three candidates and select an acting superintendent to replace Todd Hamilton when his resignation takes effect Feb. 28. Lookout Eugene‑Springfield, KLCC and the Register‑Guard report the meeting will be streamed live and held in open session.

Three candidates are slated for 20‑minute interviews. KLCC and Lookout identify Brian Megert, director of special programs for Springfield Public Schools; Ame Beard, principal of the district’s Academy of Arts and Academics, listed by KLCC with an alternate spelling as Ame [Amy] Beard; and Jodi O’Mara, described by KLCC as the retired superintendent of Mapleton School District and by Lookout as a former Mapleton superintendent. Lookout and the Register‑Guard say each candidate will have a 20‑minute interview slot and the board will deliberate in open session.

Lookout reports the board intends to appoint an acting superintendent who will serve from March 1 through the end of the school year. The Register‑Guard frames that acting appointment as a temporary fill while the board identifies an interim superintendent. Both timelines align with KLCC, Lookout and Register‑Guard reporting that Hamilton’s resignation agreement was negotiated and will go into effect Feb. 28, making Feb. 28 his final day.

The district’s leadership transition follows a Feb. 9 board meeting in which members agreed to negotiate a resignation agreement with Hamilton, according to Lookout. Lookout also states that Hamilton is “resigning amid turmoil, which includes his threat to sue the district and members of the board.” KLCC’s coverage includes a related image caption noting, “Superintendent Todd Hamilton, center, speaks during a teacher of the year ceremony in October, 2025. Pictured right is Director of the Oregon Department of Education Charlene Williams.”

Board scheduling activity this month included a canceled special meeting; the Springfield Public Schools Board of Directors posted on Instagram, “The Springfield Public Schools Board of Directors has canceled the Special Meeting that had been scheduled for 11:30 on Thursday, February 5.” That cancellation precedes the Feb. 9 negotiation and the Feb. 20 special meeting now underway.

Reporters seeking further detail plan to request the official Feb. 20 meeting agenda and packet, the streaming link and recording, and a copy or summary of Hamilton’s resignation agreement to confirm dates and any terms. The Register‑Guard and Lookout note the board may name the acting superintendent during Friday’s meeting; the selected candidate would begin March 1 and serve through the end of the school year while the board searches for an interim superintendent.