By John Burton
FAIR HAVEN – The Board of Education is going to have to find a new district superintendent.
Kathleen Cronin, the district’s superintendent of schools, has notified the board of her intention to retire at the close of the current school year.
“We are in the process of accumulating resumes and professionally coordinating our search for a new superintendent,” said school board member Jeffrey Spector.
Spector called Cronin “an extremely effective superintendent.” He noted “her way of bringing parties together, her way of coordinating information and just working well with all of the stakeholders in the district,” as some of the traits that have worked well in the district.
“We will all miss her terribly,” he said.
Cronin’s current salary is $145,000, according to district information. The district has two schools, Viola L. Sickles, Willow Street, for children in K-3 grade; and Knollwood School on Hance Road for students in grades 4-8.
The district has approximately 912 students in the two schools, according to the state Department of Education.
Cronin will remain on the job until June 30. According to her letter informing the board members of her plans, she will help the board throughout this “extremely busy year” during which the district will be addressing changes in state educational requirements, such as revised teacher evaluations; and with the board’s search for a new principal for one of its schools.
Cronin wrote that she would “continue to work on these projects so that they can be smoothly transitioned to my successor.”
Board members are hopeful the position will be filled by the time Cronin departs, Spector said. “Obviously, we’re going to make sure we have the right person.”
Cronin has been with the district for five years and has been in the educational field for 39, according to her letter.
“Although it has been an honor to serve in a district with such amazing children, it is time for me to move on to a new phase of my life,” she wrote.
Though she said she was “excited at the prospect of doing something a bit different with my days,” she did not elaborate as to her future plans.
Cronin did not respond to requests for comment this week.
