PITTSFIELD — After a decade at the helm, Michael A. Gallagher is retiring as superintendent of School Administrative District 53.

In a retirement letter released Tuesday, Gallagher says he’ll resign when his contract ends June 30, 2012, so that the school board has all winter and spring to find a successor.

Gallagher, 57, of Hartland, said Tuesday that he’s ready to retire after 35 years of work in education.

“I think I came to the realization that this is the time for me,” Gallagher said. “I still like what I do and I think it’s better to go out while I like what I’m doing rather than not.”

The school board is scheduled at its regular meeting on Monday to accept his retirement notice and discuss hiring a new school superintendent. The school district consists of Burnham, Detroit and Pittsfield.

Gallagher is paid $96,738 a year as superintendent.

His career in education began in 1977 when he was a third-grade teacher at the Dorothy R. Cookson Elementary School in Detroit. Gallagher went on to work for nine years at the Pittsfield Grammar School and Vickery Elementary School, then 11 years as the assistant principal at the Dexter Primary/Middle School, and nine years in Waterville at the Albert S. Hall School.

He was also principal at the Vickery school for four years and an interim/substitute superintendent before he was hired for the top job permanently.

In his letter, Gallagher says he’s worked in SAD 53 for about 24 years and is indebted to the help he’s received from school staff, teachers, school board members and students.

“The current administration is incredibly talented and will continue to lead the district toward continuous improvement,” Gallagher said.

Looking back on his 10 years as superintendent, Gallagher said among his key accomplishments have been overseeing about $5 million in building renovations at the Warsaw, Vickery and Burnham schools that have been financed through no-interest grants or loans. Gallagher also cited accomplishments of hiring “some exceptional people to lead the district,” initiating student-led conferences each spring and upgrading the district’s technology and upgrading its website.

Gallagher said he’s tried to maintain school programming amid dwindling revenue sharing from the state government.

“I’ve been a person who’s been very focused on budgets — that’s been a major focus,” Gallagher said. “We have continued to offer all programming we always offered yet reducing the local contribution made by the citizen of the district each year.”

Gallagher also worked for three years on plans that would merge SAD 53 with another school district to comply with the state’s school consolidation law and avoid a $180,000 penalty. After several failed attempts at consolidation with surrounding districts, SAD 53 was granted a waiver from consolidation.

One of the failed consolidation attempts involved Madison-based SAD 59, where Gallagher served as part-time superintendent until 2009, when he resigned to focus on his Pittsfield job full-time.

Last year, the Burnham Village School and superintendent’s office were both closed as part of budget-reduction measures. The superintendent’s office has since moved to Warsaw Middle School.

Gallagher said he plans to remain living in the area and will continue volunteer work with the Sebasticook Valley Hospital board, the Great Moose Lake Association and ski patrolling.

Scott Monroe — 861-9239

smonroe@centralmaine.com

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