They have combined for more than 55 years of service in the school district
By Gene Robbins, Managing Editor
Two of the three top administrators in the Hillsborough school district’s special services area had their retirements approved Monday night by the Board of Education.
Leonore Johnston, director of special services for the district, said she’ll retire effective Feb. 1. She has been worked in Hillsborough since September 1981.
Christine Petruzzelli, supervisor of special services at the high and middle schools, will also retire effective Feb. 1. She has been with the Dates of employment September 1, 1988.
Combined, that’s about 58 years of experience in an area that deals with the estimated 13 percent of the district’s students educationally classified as in need of some special service.
That work — including staff and resources — accounts for perhaps a quarter of the school district’s more than $100 million annual budget, said Business Administrator Aiman Mahmoud.
Superintendent Jorden Schiff said Ms. Johnston and Ms. Petruzelli are “outstanding leaders in our district’ who committed themselves “personally and professionally” to their students. Both will be sorely missed, he said.
Board member Christopher Pulsifer noted the “huge amount of institutional knowledge in areas that require additional expertise.”
Board members briefly discussed if they could entice the two to stay until the end of the year. Dr. Schiff said “the only constant is change” and said the district will undergo a rigorous search in the time period it has.