EAST PROVIDENCE — The exodus of administrators from within the East Providence School Department ranks continued recently as Director of Curriculum Beth Salzillo submitted a 30-day notice of her impending departure.

Ms. Salzillo, who was among those being considered for the newly-created but as of yet unfilled Director of Education position in the city department, is leaving for what is believed to be a post in the Pawtucket system similar to the one she currently holds. Ms. Salzillo becomes the latest of the city's higher-ranking administrators, including school principals and assistant principals, that have opted to leave the department.

As she departs, only Interim Superintendent Dr. John DeGoes and Director of Special Education Cheryl Ursillo along with Diana Clarkin, Special Ed operations manager, remain in the E.P. School Department hierarchy.

"We were hoping that Beth would stay and possibly take on even more responsibilities in the department, but she decided to go elsewhere," current, though out-going School Committee Chairman Charlie Tsonos said in confirming Ms. Salzillo's impending departure.

"With all of the uncertainly we have in the department, all of these people leaving doesn't bode well for hiring quality replacements," Mr. Tsonos added.

Finding a permanent superintendent could go a long way in ending the exodus, and the East Providence Budget Commission, which is overseeing the hire rather than the School Committee, noted at its most recent meeting a full-time replacement for Dr. DeGoes is expected to be in place sometime shortly after the New Year and most likely by February.

The tenure of Dr. DeGoes, who came out of retirement late this summer to replace Edward Daft as interim super, ends in late January due to state pension guidelines.

In other school-related news of note, former East Providence High School and, briefly, Martin Middle School Vice Principal John Craig and the department reached what was a mid-five figure monetary settlement his employment status dispute.

Mr. Craig won a grievance with the Rhode Island Department of Education against East Providence over his termination from his then position at EPHS at the end of the 2010-11 term. As part of the settlement this summer, Mr. Craig initially returned to the system as an assistant to new MMS Principal Frank DeVall. However, he was one of the aforementioned administrators who have recently left the department, opting to take a similar job in Connecticut last month.