Courier News, June 8, 2009, Monday

Copyright 2009 Courier News (Bridgewater, NJ)
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Courier News (Bridgewater, New Jersey)

June 8, 2009, Monday

HEADLINE: Somerville schools superintendent Carolyn Leary announces retirement

BYLINE: MARTIN C. BRICKETTO

BODY:
STAFF WRITER
Superintendent Carolyn F. Leary has announced her retirement after nearly two decades as the district's chief administrator.

Leary's retirement is effective June 30, 2010, when her most recent contract expires. She will have been with the district for 18 years and 10 months at that time.

"I have been blessed to spend these years in Somerville and when my last day arrives as superintendent of schools, I will leave with a heavy heart and many happy memories," Leary said in a prepared statement that she read during a school board meeting Tuesday.
Leary began her statement by quipping that the only time she writes anything down is when she is asked to give a eulogy.

"Perhaps that is fitting for tonight," Leary said.

MAKING IT OFFICIAL

A former superintendent in New Paltz, NY, Leary was hired in 1991, succeeding James Dwyer after 18 years as the district's superintendent. Her current base salary is $201,594, according to budget documents posted on the district's Web site. The district serves borough students, and high school students from Branchburg. It had a total enrollment of 2,260 students as of the 2007-2008 school year, according to data from the state Department of Education.

The contents of the announcement may not have come as a surprise to board members. Leary said in her statement that she mentioned to board member Ken Cornell two years ago that "I felt it was time for me to move on to something else in my life," and last year, she told the board she would be retiring at the end of her contract, "giving them ample time to plan for the future."
Board President Peter Lawton said Wednesday the panel had an idea Leary would be retiring, but until Tuesday's announcement it "certainly wasn't official and it certainly wasn't definite." He said the board accepted Leary's resignation.

"In the time that I've been working with her, she has done an incredibly good job," said Lawton, a nine-year board member. "She has taken a difficult situation because of various things beyond her control and made the best out of them. And when I say beyond her control, I mean state mandates that didn't have funding and trying to find the best resolution to some of the Branchburg issues regarding the high school. We have a very diverse community, and she has done a lot of good things for the school district."

At times, the Branchburg and Somerville districts have argued over representation on the
Somerville board and the cost of tuition.

EDUCATION AND NURTURING

Leary thanked residents for passing seven consecutive budgets and approving multimillion-dollar referendums during her time at the district for purposes such as upgrading the middle school. She went on to thank her administrative team, teachers and other personnel and school board members. She said she has worked with 35 school board members during her tenure.
"These (board of education) members never placed self-interests, personal agendas or engaged in micromanaging, but rather saw the bigger picture, which was a quality education for all children no matter how rich or poor they were," Leary said.

Leary also thanked Somerville mayors and borough council members, Branchburg school board members and Somerville and Branchburg parents for "entrusting your children to our care for their education and nurturing unrivaled by others."

A former nun, Leary earned a bachelor's degree in English from Mercy College and a master's degree in educational administration and a doctorate in education from Fordham University, according to past Courier News articles. She also earned a master's degree in industrial and labor relations, with a specialty in collective bargaining, from Cornell University's School of Industrial and Labor Relations.

Leary became superintendent in New Paltz in 1988 after more than two years as superintendent of a K-8 district in Garrison, NY. She also spent time as an elementary school principal and middle school teacher.

Lawton said finding a new superintendent is likely a six-to-nine-month process once the tools for conducting the search are in place. He said the board's first step is finding out what kind of search firms are available to help with the process, with a request for proposals to follow.
Lawton added that the board wants to find someone who's a good fit with the district, and doesn't want to settle for just any candidate.

"We would be prepared to do whatever we have to do to continue to search, even if that means an interim superintendent," Lawton said. "This isn't on-the-job training. We want someone we feel is comfortable and qualified to deal with the Somerville school district."
Martin C. Bricketto: 908-243-6609; mbricketto@MyCentralJersey.com

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