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Copiague School Superintendent, William Bolton, to retire
"Something like that is just not acceptable," said Bolton whose philosophy is that paying attention to details and making sure educational facilities are clean, safe and attractive, is the basis for providing quality education. "If they can't get the clocks to work, what assurances are they giving the community that everything else is working," he said. After spending 13 years in the district and forging major educational and infrastructure changes, Bolton has announced that he will be retiring. He is stepping down at the end of the school year with every clock in every Copiague School Building working perfectly. Bolton made the announcement at a school board meeting late last month, telling the board that his decision was "bittersweet." "I look forward to the welcoming freedom that retirement offers, but I will certainly miss my connection with children and communities dedicated to helping our next generation be successful," said Bolton. Throughout his 36- year career in education, Bolton has worked primarily in high-needs districts, helping to bring quality programs and good schools to students who need them the most. "I believe that is what we have done here in Copiague," said Bolton, adding that during his tenure he, the school board, staff, parents and community have "changed the very fabric of the district." "With tremendous support, we changed everything from the foundation of our curriculum to our facilities," he said. "In doing so, achievement has never been higher, and we have even been recognized several times by the state, including having two visits by the Commissioner of Education." decision was "bittersweet. "I look forward to the welcoming freedom that retirement offers, but I will certainly miss my connection with children and communities dedicated to helping our next generation be successful," said Bolton. Throughout his 36-year career in education, Bolton has worked primarily in high-needs districts, helping to bring quality programs and good schools to students who need them the most. "I believe that is what we have done here in Copiague," said Bolton, adding that during his tenure he, the school board, staff, parents and community have "changed the very fabric of the district. "With tremendous support we changed everything from the foundation of our curriculum to our facilities," he said. "In doing so, achievement has never been higher, and we have even been recognized several times by the state, including having two visits by the Commissioner of Education." The district spent $25 million on school renovations and rebuilding the district's sports complex under his leadership. During his tenure in Copiague, the district's scores rose dramatically. The district went from having 20 percent of its students receiving Regents diplomas ten years ago to 80 percent today. Its reading, math and language arts scores also increased. "While our goal is to have 100 percent of our students get Regents diplomas, this at least puts us on the path to achieving that," said Bolton. But the district has had tremendous financial support from the community- a community that had previously had difficulties in passing school budgets with anything more than a modest increase. "There's no question that we could not have done this without the support of the taxpayers," said Bolton. "In the years that state aid was reduced we went to the taxpayers and asked them to continue to support the level of education here in Copiague and they did. I think that is evidence of the fact that they believed their money was being well spent." It's evidence, too, of the role he assumed in becoming a part of the community and in making sure the taxpayers knew how the district was spending its money and why. "He would go to meetings with civic groups and talk to everyone about the budget," said Mildred Browne, a former school board member who was on the board when Bolton was hired and he made sure the board understood that too." Bolton served on the Executive Committee of the Council of School Superintendents, is Past President of the S.C. School Superintendent's Associaiton and Past President of the Kiwanis Club of Copiague. He is the recipient of the New York State Superintendent's Award for leadership in the area of technology and received the 2004 Public Service Award from the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Commission. In 2005, he was receive The Friend of Education Award from the New York State United Teachers. Bolton moved into Copiague when he was tapped for the Superintendent post as part of his contract. He has, however, made it a practice of living in every district in which he worked, saying he believes it is important to be a resident and taxpayer as well as an administrator of the district. "When I voted to hire him, I did it with some trepidation," said Browne. "But he more than met our expectations and did wonderful things for the children of the Copiague School District." As for the future, Bolton said he will be moving back to his hometown in Ticonderoga, New York, north of Lake George in the Adirondacks. He said he's enjoyed living on Long Island and having had the "Long Island experience. "Everything here is at your fingertips," he said. "Manhattan is a 45 minute ride, and life here was wonderful. We intend to come back." Bolton's wife is a retired Massapequa School District educator and his daughter Dr. Jennifer Bolton Carls is an assistant superintendent of finance with OCB BOCES. She formerly worked in Cold Spring Harbor.
He looks ahead to living, once again, in the town in which he grew up, spending time out of doors, skiing, hiking and spending more time with his family.
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