The Board of Education received word on Friday from longtime Superintendent Dr. C. Suzanne Klein of her plans to retire at the end of December, 2011.
This is a moment that we knew would be coming and not too far off in the reasonable future. On her own terms Dr. Klein concluded it was time for her well-earned retirement.
It will certainly be sad to see Dr. Klein go, but aside from her outstanding years of service, she is to be commended for giving such lengthy notice to the school board. We now have a comfortable window to conduct a national search for her successor and perhaps even allow for a comfortable period of overlap in the fall if we execute properly.
I will have many more thoughts on this topic in the coming days, including research I have begun to compile relative to the replacement process. But I also look forward to our remaining time with Dr. Klein and reflecting on her wonderful contributions to our schools and the community.