Updated 02/16/2010 09:32 PM
Wake County superintendent announces resignation
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RALEIGH -- Wake County Superintendent Del Burns announced his resignation to surprised Board of Education members during their meeting Tuesday.
No one, not even his staff, knew of Burns' plans before his announcement. His resignation from the state’s largest school system is effective June 30.
“Based upon personal and obligatory considerations, it is clear to me that I cannot, in all good conscience, continue to serve as superintendent,” Burns told the board Tuesday.
He declined to comment further about the reasons for his decision, which came as a shock to school board members – including Chair Ron Margiotta.
"It's like attending a funeral,” Margiotta said. “No previous knowledge."
Burns began teaching in the school system in 1976 as a special needs instructor at Aldert Root Elementary. Although he left the school system in 1995 to serve as an assistant superintendent of Pitt County Schools, he returned in 1997 when he was hired as the principal of Millbrook High School.
He served in various other positions until the school board named him superintendent in 2006.
Some board members believe Burns is resigning because he does not support the direction of the new board.
"It's a terrible loss to this county. It's a terrible loss for our school system. It's a terrible loss for me,” board member Anne McLaurin said. “But, I could not ask him to do a job he did not think he could do well or do a job that he did not think was in the best interest of this system."
It will now be up to the board to find a replacement. In the past, the school board has designated a search committee to find a new superintendent.
But with Burns’ resignation, and the retirement of the Assistant Superintendent of Growth and Planning Chuck Dulaney, the new board majority needs to figure out how to move forward with the sweeping changes they’ve promised.
"We need to proceed on the course that we are, on the schedule that we are, because the goal is the children, the students," school board Vice Chair Debra Goldman said.
More than 33 years ago my career as an educator began at Aldert Root Elementary School. And since that time, I’ve served in a number of positions: as an elementary and high school special education teacher; as an assistant principal and as an elementary principal in magnet schools; as the principal of two high schools; as associate superintendent, deputy superintendent, and now as superintendent-all in the Wake County Public School System.
In each role, I have worked to the best of my ability for all children, supporting a strong school system, not just a system of schools.
I was proud that day in 1976 when I first became an employee. To this point I have always considered myself fortunate to be a part of the Wake County Public School System.
With that said, based upon personal and obligatory considerations, it is clear to me that I cannot, in all good conscience, continue to serve as superintendent.
Therefore, out of respect for the Board, out of respect for its direction and its decisions, I provide to the Chair written notice that effective June 30, 2010, I resign my position.