The assistant superintendent of Cranston Public Schools appeared set this week for appointment as the district’s next superintendent.

The School Committee was scheduled to meet Tuesday night, with the appointment of Jeannine Nota-Masse to succeed the retiring Dr. Judith Lundsten, effective July 1, on the agenda.

Janice Ruggieri, the committee’s chairwoman, said the appointment would be contingent on ongoing contract talks with Nota-Masse. She had high praise for the assistant superintendent.

“She’s visionary as far as what the district can be…She loves this district,” Ruggieri said.

Lundsten, who has worked in the district for more than 25 years, became assistant superintendent in 2009, and succeeded Peter Nero as superintendent in 2012, in January announced her plans to retire effective June 30.

Nota-Masse has served as assistant superintendent since 2012. She has worked in Cranston’s schools for several years, and in 2001 became an assistant principal at Cranston High School East. In 2008, she left the district to become principal at East Greenwich High School.

In 2010, she returned to Cranston as executive director of educational programs and services.

Nota-Masse could not be reached for comment earlier this week, but in 2010, she spoke with the Herald about her return to Cranston.

“This is not just a job for the people here, it’s a vocation,” she said. “I have a lot of faith in what we do here, and I believe that the people of Cranston deserve the very best.”

The proposed appointment is not without controversy. The school committee did not conduct a search for the superintendent’s post, and there was little public discussion of the matter before the agenda for Tuesday night’s meeting was posted.

On social media, several parents questioned the process. Kerri Kelleher, a parent, co-founder and president of Benefiting All Students in Cranston Public Schools (BASICS) and citywide candidate for school committee last year, posted a message she had sent to members of the committee.

“My issue is not with Mrs. Nota-Masse. My issue is with the school committee…for not performing any search, or even posting this position,” the message reads.

Kelleher points to the process through which Lundsten was promoted to the district’s top job – which included several candidates – and describes it as having been “relatively straightforward and transparent.” Not taking a similar approach to the current impending vacancy, she writes, is “unfair to our students, parents, faculty, staff, and Mrs. Nota-Masse.”

“I urge you to reconsider and fill this position in the proper manner,” she concludes.

Ruggieri on Tuesday said the committee is not required by law to conduct interviews for the superintendent’s post. In the past, she said, vacancies have been filled both by appointment and search processes.

“It’s been done in different ways,” she said. “We’ve had some successful and some not so successful ones going in both ways.”

Ruggieri said Nota-Masse stood out as a clear choice to succeed Lundsten for several reasons.

“Her vision for the district is really clear and really strong, and really mirrors what’s in the strategic plan,” Ruggieri said, noting that plan was developed with input from the public, the committee, members of the school administration and others.

Ruggieri said Nota-Masse has spearheaded the district’s safety plan, built a strong relationship with the Cranston Police Department, worked to provide cutting-edge safety training for staff, developed policy, and overseen the creation of a residency task force.

Ruggieri said she also sees Nota-Masse as able to “build bridges” and maintain positive relationships with the city administration, the district’s unions and others.

“She’s a strong leader, a strong communicator,” Ruggieri said.

Ruggieri also noted that Nota-Masse has strong personal ties to the city and its schools, with a child enrolled in the district.

“She’s here for the long haul,” Ruggieri said.