To gasps of surprise, Great Neck Public Schools Superintendent Tom Dolan announced his impending retirement at Monday’s Great Neck Schools Board of Education meeting.
“I am seldom more proud than when I tell people that I am superintendent of the Great Neck Public Schools,” Dolan said. “It is my great honor to serve this community and this board.”
Even though he couldn’t announce it privately to each person as he said he wished, he still received a standing ovation from a packed room of community members in the cafeteria of the Parkville School.
Dolan said he decided to retire because he is healthy enough to do so, and that he would like to teach at a university level again and spend more time with his children and grandchildren.
“I want to be an active and involved grandparent,” Dolan said. “I want to write other chapters in my life.”
Dolan said he has taught at three or four local universities before, and that, despite the age of the students, he finds teaching invigorating.
“It’s what I call ‘mental floss,’” Dolan said. “If you have worries on your mind and you’re doing it right, you can forget about those things when you walk into a classroom.”
Dolan said he will be involved in the process of finding a new superintendent, and that there is no set date when he will officially retire.
Board President Barbara Berkowitz said that Dolan had done an excellent job as superintendent of schools, and that the district is surprised and saddened by his wish to retire.
Berkowtiz said the work of the district is ongoing and Dolan’s announcement will not create a disruption of work or leadership.
The search for a new superintendent began Tuesday, she said.
Board Vice President Lawrence Gross said the district plans to continue the things Dolan set in motion.
“There are many wonderful things that occur in the district each day,” Gross said. “One of the wonderful things about this district is its reputation it earned because of the hard work of Mr. Dolan.”
Dolan has been the superintendent of the Great Neck public schools since July 2009, when he replaced Ronald Friedman, according to the district’s website. He had worked as the superintendent of the Franklin Square Elementary School District since 2004. He graduated from Hamilton College in 1978 with bachelors of arts in history and psychology, according to the district.
As superintendent, Dolan said he is most proud of “continuing to enhance the district despite the oppressive influence of New York state on public education.”
Dolan includes the state tax cap, which limits the amount school districts can increase their tax levies, and the “poorly designed and administered” state tests given to students as ways the state is intruding on public education.
“Despite those attacks the Great Neck Public Schools have risen to the challenge and gotten better,” he said.
Dolan also released the proposed school calendar for the 2015-2016 school year. Dolan said he was getting the calendar out early so that there will be enough time for parents in the district to review it.
The school district, Dolan said, preserved every religious holiday residents in the past have said they consider important.
