Middle School Principal to Retire in December

Robert Accardi, the principal of , has submitted a letter to the Board of Education announcing his retirement at the end of the calendar year.

Accardi said his official retirement date will be Jan. 1, 2013, in "hope that the timeliness of this notice will make possible a thorough and rigorous principal search" and an "orderly transition."

Accardi has been an employee of the School District of the Chathams for 20 years. In his letter to the board, he said his time in the district "has been professionally and personally rewarding for me."

Tom Belding, the sitting president of the board, said the district "will conduct an appropriately broad search" for Accardi's replacement. "Exactly where we will advertise has yet to be discussed," he said.

Once applications are received, Belding said Dr. Michael LaSusa, the incoming superintendent, will organize committees to review qualifications and conduct interviews.

In his letter to the board, Accardi wrote the "cornerstone" of the school district's success is partnerships with "our wonderful students, their supportive parents and my truly extraordinary colleagues." He also thanked "the many members of the Board of Education who have upheld and continually deepened our mission" of educating the children of Chatham.