JOYCE — After 18 years at the helm of the Crescent School District, Superintendent Rich Wilson has retired — and the School Board president said the news caught her by surprise.
Wilson, 63, stepped out June 30, when his contract expired, but he waited until Tuesday to discuss his retirement publicly.
“It was a matter of retiring at 62 or 65, and I couldn’t leave last year when we didn’t have the levy,” Wilson said.
“The district is in good shape now, and I want to spend more time with my wife, Jan, and my kids.”
Crescent School Board President Tracey Grover said Wilson had not formally notified the board of his retirement.
But Wilson said he informed the board of his departure plans during a June meeting.
“We will have to talk about his retirement tonight (Tuesday) at the board meeting,” Grover said.
“There were some indicators that he was thinking of retiring — but we didn’t know for sure.”
Search begins
Grover said officials will begin searching for a new superintendent.
Wilson said he is exiting now because he feels that the district is stable.
“I feel that I am leaving the district in a good space and at a good time,” he said.
“Financially, I came to a district 18 years ago that was virtually bankrupt and am leaving a strong cash balance and a four-year levy in place.”
