O'Neill Retirement Becomes Official

The Board of Education will vote on a resolution to officially approve Superintendent Jim O'Neill's resignation at the regular meeting Monday night.

O'Neill gave the Board of Education a letter of resignation on Feb. 28 stating his intention to retire the purpose of retirement. The board, however, took no action on his resignation, pending the outcome of O'Neill's lawsuit against the state Department of Education regarding the state-imposed salary caps for school superintendents, which would have reduced O'Neill's salary by nearly 20 percent.

O'Neill's resignation will be effective July 1 when his contract expires.

"I am disappointed that I am not retiring on the time schedule I would have chosen, and I am disappointed we do not have the opportunity to plan for a more orderly transition to a new superintendent,"O'Neill wrote in the letter to the board.

"I have few regrets, but revel in the many rewards that have come with leading such an excellent district and being part of a unique and special community."

O'Neill first came to the district as the principal of Chatham High School on Dec. 16, 1996, and became superintendent of the district on July 1, 2003. He called his choice to come to Chatham "the best professional decision I could have made."

The Board will also vote on a resolution aproving the retirement of Kathryn Haenschen, a secretary at Chatham Middle School, and the resignation of Kevin Murray at Chatham High School.