Retired Suffield School Principal Appointed Interim Schools Superintendent

The Suffield Board of Education has voted to appoint Dr. Mel Chafetz as the Interim Superintendent of Schools beginning on Jan. 1.

The six-month appointment will expire June 30, 2015, when the board hopes to have a permanent replacement in place for Dr. Karen Baldwin who’s resigned to become superintendent of the Ridgefield Public School district in Fairfield County. The board voted approval of Chatetz’s appointment at a special meeting held Dec. 23.

In a statement, the board of education said, “Dr. Chafetz has been a devoted supporter of Suffield and Suffield Schools for 30 years and we are grateful he has taken a break from his retirement to help us move our district through a time of transition to a new Superintendent in the 2015/2016 school year.”

Chafetz, who’s lived in Suffield since 1984, said in a letter to the school district, “I am grateful that the school board has the confidence to appoint me Interim Superintendent of the Suffield Public Schools. Many of you know me as the former principal of Spaulding and McAlister Intermediate Schools.”

Chafetz also wrote:

“Prior to coming to Suffield, my wife and I lived and worked in different school systems in a number of states. When I was appointed principal in Suffield in 1984 we decided to settle in this community and we have never regretted that decision. We found Suffield to be a wonderful town in which to raise our children, with a great school system. Both Beth and I came to love this community. We are still intimately involved in many activities in town.

I was a member of the Suffield Board of Selectman until my appointment as Interim Superintendent. I am president of the Suffield Public Library Foundation and have been active in raising funds for the new library entrance. For many years I have been a member of the Greater Suffield Interfaith Council and am a founder of Suffield’s Juvenile Review Board and Youth Services.

Our interest and concern for our wonderful schools runs deep in my family. Though I retired, I never lost my interest in our educational system. We have an outstanding faculty and support staff that provides your children with a challenging education. I have seen how the administration has worked to create a supportive program and provide resources for the teachers.

I accepted this challenge knowing it is only temporary, but I aim to help the Board during this period of transition to a new Superintendent, and develop a budget that supports a strong instructional program. Our goal is to have a new Superintendent start July 1, 2015. The selection process is arduous, but it is our intent to make it as open and inclusive as possible.

I hope you will join the school Board and me during the time I am Interim Superintendent. I am confident our shared goals for the success of Suffield children will help us to work together to continue to move our school system toward excellence.

I look forward to meeting and working with you.”

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Photo: Dr. Mel Chafetz. Credit: Suffield Democratic Town Committee.