At the last regular meeting of the Sudbury Public Schools Committee for the 2010-2011 school year on Wednesday, retiring Superintendent John Brackett was seated next to incoming Superintendent Dr. Anne Wilson in a symbolic handing over of the reigns.

Brackett’s last day with the district had been scheduled for June 30. However, he shared with district families in an e-blast on Wednesday that this week would be his last because he will require unplanned bypass heart surgery next week. In the message, Brackett said the following about his eight years as superintendent in Sudbury.

“It has … been a rewarding, memorable, and incredible opportunity to work with outstanding educators, dedicated school committee members, and parents who are committed to kids and excellence. You all challenged me and made the work here meaningful. For this, I am blessed.”

Committee members on Wednesday took turns expressing gratitude for a job well done and best wishes for the future to Brackett and Assistant Superintendent Robert Milley, who is also retiring.

“I think your contributions to this district have been extraordinary, and your focus on excellence has had a profound impact,” said committee Chair Jeffrey Beeler. “You will be very much missed.”

Dr. Brackett also voiced his optimism about the district’s future and his confidence that Wilson would continue to lead it in the right direction.

“Great things are going to continue to happen here,” he said.

“You truly have set us up for success,” replied Dr. Wilson, “and for that I’ll be eternally grateful.”

The 2011-2012 school year will involve a number of transitions in leadership for the district due to retirements and other shifts in staffing. A search for a permanent assistant superintendent to replace Milley this spring did not yield an appropriate candidate.

However, Dr. Wilson announced at Wednesday’s meeting that the position would be filled on an interim basis of one year, and she introduced Dr. Judith Malone-Neville as the person selected. Malone-Neville has filled interim administrative positions in Arlington and Brookline, and previously had a long career in the Newton public schools.

“We were really looking for a good person in transition,” said Wilson. “It’s really important to be able to have stability and experience in the central office.”

For her part, Malone-Neville said that she believed her role would be to maintain everything that is already working well in the district and to prepare for new leadership.

“I know that Sudbury’s a wonderful school system and there are many things in place,” she said.

The district has also made several other hires in recent weeks. The newly created half-time assistant principal role for Haynes Elementary will be assumed by popular Peter Noyes teacher Laura Dayal, and two vacant house administrator positions at Curtis Middle School have also been filled.

In other loose ends for the school committee to wrap up before summer, Mary Will, director of business and finance, reported that financial actuals are still tracking well to the budget for the closing school year. The Committee also approved the acceptance of several gifts offered to the district, including approximately $28,000 for school technology improvements from the Haynes Organization of Parents and 25 five-year-old computers from Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High School. These will be distributed throughout the district, with the majority going to replace older machines in the Peter Noyes library.

As of Thursday, June 24, all schools within the Sudbury Public Schools district were out for summer vacation.