Worcester Public Schools has its next superintendent.

The Worcester School Committee voted Thursday to select Deputy Superintendent Brian Allen for the role. He’ll replace current Superintendent Rachel Monárrez, who’s stepping down in June to lead the Orange Unified School District in California.

Mayor Joseph Petty, who chairs Worcester’s school committee, called Allen a steady leader who “knows this district inside and out.”

“He’s been with the Worcester Public Schools for over 27 years,” Petty said at Thursday’s school committee meeting. “He’s well-positioned to maintain the current momentum and continue our trajectory for growth and improvement in this district.”

Allen also currently serves as the district’s chief financial officer and chief operations officer. He told the school committee he was committed to continuing Worcester Public Schools’ strategic plan that Monárrez has spearheaded.

The plan has received overwhelming support from the school committee and parents of Worcester public school students. Its goals include modernizing school buildings, enhancing mental wellness counseling in schools and hiring more diverse staff to be more representative of students.

Before the vote Tuesday, several school committee members suggested appointing an interim superintendent instead of hiring Allen for the position permanently. Dianna Biancheria, Maureen Binienda and Kathleen Roy said the committee should conduct a formal search to replace Monárrez.

“I worry, are we rushing this through?” Roy told fellow members. “We owe it as an elected body to our constituents, faculty and families to conduct a transparent and proper search.”

Other committee members pushed back, saying that Worcester Public Schools needs clarity about who will be its leader long-term. They noted that next month the committee will start formalizing the district’s budget for the next fiscal year and it’s critical that a superintendent can lead those discussions.

After a motion to open up a search failed, the committee voted 8-1 to appoint Allen to a three-year term. Binienda cast the lone no-vote.

The committee still needs to negotiate a contract with Allen.