Superintendent James M. Lewis informed the school board earlier this month that he’s resigning, effective June 30.
He
has been with the school district for eight years, the first three as
Winchester School’s principal, and then as superintendent.
Lewis,
who lives in Hopkinton, said Monday he began seriously thinking about
moving on from the Winchester School District in January.
The
daily drive of 54.5 miles from his house to the parking lot of the
Winchester School has been getting more difficult, he said.
“It takes me just over an hour one way to get there,” he explained. “Much longer in the winter.”
The
recent debate over the future of the ACCESS before- and after-school
program at the kindergarten through 8th-grade school has nothing to do
with his decision to step down, he said.
In
March, Lewis sent a letter to program officials saying the school
district wasn’t renewing ACCESS’ agreement to operate in the school for
the 2017-18 school year. He received heavy pushback for his decision
from program supporters and families who rely on it for childcare. The
issue has been resolved, with an agreement to let the program stay at
the school as long as it meets certain conditions (see related article).
School
board Chairman Kevin Bazan said Monday that Lewis’ resignation and the
ACCESS program continuing at Winchester are unrelated.
Lewis
said he makes $92,006 as superintendent. His duties also include being
special education director, a section 504 coordinator and a homeless
liaison, he said.
During
his tenure, Lewis said he has enjoyed solving problems by analyzing
data and has seen the positive effect of that in Winchester.
“I
feel the current Winchester administration shares my ideas and
philosophies, so I’m confident they will continue to do well after I’m
gone,” he said.
The school
board is interviewing candidates to fill the superintendent post and
reviewing the job description, according to Bazan.
Board members haven’t determined if the position will be part-time or full-time, as it is now, he said.
An
advertisement for the job posted May 11 on School Spring, an education
job-search website, lists June 15 as a starting date for a new
superintendent. It notes that the position is for 32 hours a week, but
may require additional hours, with salary and benefits negotiable.
The
advertisement says the school district would like the candidate to be
able to work with the current superintendent through June 30.