Les Loomis, who came to Bethlehem Central in 1987 and has guided it through a period of significant growth and enhanced academic performance that ranks statewide, will step down at the end of the 2007-08 school year.
Loomis announced his retirement in his welcoming remarks during the district’s annual Opening Day events, which kicked off his 21st year as superintendent of the district.
BC has given me the opportunity to do important work — work that I wouldn’t trade for anything, he said. `It has been an honor and a privilege to work with our students, the community and parents, faculty and staff and the board of education for the last two decades. Bethlehem Central is a great school district, and this has been a great place to raise a family.`
Loomis, who holds a doctorate in education and a master’s degree in business administration from Harvard University, came to Bethlehem from the Andover (Mass.) School District, where he was an assistant superintendent. Prior to that, he was principal of Fayetteville-Manlius High School, which is near Syracuse.
Lytle said the first step in the search for the next superintendent, the selection of a consultant to assist in the process, is already under way. Although the details of the search process will not be determined until after the consultant is retained, the Board is eager to solicit broad community input in the search for the new superintendent.
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