ATTLEBORO - Only nine months into her tenure as the city's top educator, schools Superintendent Pia Durkin has earned a resounding vote of confidence from school committee members, who delivered their first evaluation of the schools boss Monday night.

The evaluation, based on a consensus of comments submitted by the school board's nine members, said that Durkin either met or exceeded expectations in four main areas, including institutional leadership, public engagement, organizational and management expectations and relations with the school committee.

Durkin, the former Narragansett, R.I., Public Schools superintendent, received recognition for skillful preparation of the budget, managing relationships with the media and the public and providing strong leadership for school personnel.

The report also cited Durkin as a "visible and accessible leader" who has built rapport with staff, families and community members while keeping the public informed of policies, practices and trends within the school system.

Taking control of the 6,000-student school system last July after the retirement of former Superintendent Joel Lovering, Durkin was faced with replacing many of the school system's core administrators as well as the principal of the high school due to retirements. Durkin also sheparded the school department's budget proposal through dozens of community meetings and conferences with city officials as well as joining forces with Dumas and others to lobby for a fair shake in state educational aid.

The new superintendent also responded to a variety of needs expressed by various constituencies, restoring middle school foreign language and music programs and initiating a transition to full-time kindergarten classes.

In the four areas evaluated by the school committee, members wrote that Durkin met standards and expectations in the area of instructional leadership and either met or exceeded standards in organizational and management expectations, public engagement and relations with the school committee.

RICK FOSTER can be reached at 508-236-0360 or at rfoster@thesunchronicle.com.