School Superintendent Mary-Elizabeth Beach stunned members of the Ware School Committee Wednesday night by announcing she will resign on June 30, 2014.
Ware school Superintendent Mary-Elizabeth Beach WARE — School Superintendent Mary-Elizabeth Beach stunned members of the Ware School Committee Wednesday night by announcing she will resign at the end of this school year.
In a brief letter to the committee, Beach wrote, "It is with mixed emotions that I tender this letter of resignation, effective June 30, 2014. It has been an honor and a privilege to (have) served the students and their families. I wish the entire Ware learning community continued success in their mission to serve the children of Ware and those insightful enough from the surrounding towns that chose us."
Following Beach’s annual performance review in April, she told the committee that she was “disappointed” with their assessment of her. In her seventh year at Ware public schools, Beach, at the conclusions of her previous six evaluations, said she “appreciates the committee’s feedback.”
For the 2012-2013 evaluation, the school chief prefaced her statement on her evaluation as follows: “the superintendent is disappointed with this evaluation.”
But in an interview after the meeting, Beach said the performance evaluation was not a factor in her decision.
The school board lauded the superintendent's efforts. Former member Carol Ducey, 65, attended Wednesday's meeting and reminded the board that when Beach started Ware schools were in crisis, in danger of losing their accreditation and victimized by poor leadership.
Ducey told the board that Beach turned things around and will be greatly missed.
In 2006, the New England Association of Schools and Colleges placed the Ware public school ystem on probation.
The action was taken for a variety of reasons, the association said at the time, including ”the lack of formal curriculum documents and a curriculum review and revision process; over-enrolled classes and the reduction in the number of course offerings, both due to staffing reductions; the limited autonomy and authority afforded the principal; the insufficient number of guidance personnel; the limited availability of the school nurse; delays in updating the heating system, and the woefully inadequate level of funding to support the school mission and expectations and the school’s educational programs and services,” the association reported in 2006.
In the past year, Beach told the board that the elementary and middle schools are ranked as "level 2" schools by the state Department of Elementary and Secondary Education; the junior/senior high school is "level 3." The state ranks schools from 1 to 5, with 1 being the best.
“I am in shock,” School Committee member Danielle Souza said after Beach read her resignation letter in open session. “I am sad to see Dr. Beach leave. I’m sad,” Souza said.
“It’s a huge loss,” said Special Education Director Mary Birks in an interview.
Beach did not elaborate on her future career plans. “I am not staying at home sewing doilies,” she said.