AHS Principal Announces Retirement

Principal Charles Skidmore has announced that he plans to retire at the end of this school year. Assistant Principal Mary Villano will take the reins from Skidmore for the 2011-2012 school year.

At the end of last week’s meeting, Chairman Joe Curro congratulated Skidmore on his accomplishments as principal.  

“You left an indelible mark on the high school,” said Curro.

Superintendent Kathleen Bodie applauded Villano’s for stepping up to guide the school in the upcoming year. The superintendent stressed that Villano's commitment to the school--not aspirations to become head principal-- motivated the assistant principal's decision.  

 “This is truly an interim position,” said Bodie. “Ms.Villano will not apply for the position.”

With the high school facing and a slashed budget due to the district’s, administrators believe it’s not the right time to bring in a completely new principal to lead the school.

“The best thing for the high school for next year given the staff deductions is to maintain as close as possible under the current administration leadership,” Bodie said. “It will be important to have continuity.”

Budgetary constraints and the school’s accreditation process also factored into Villano's promotion. Bodie also explained that the accreditation process requires coordination and hard work. Villano has already led some of the accreditation initiatives from her current post, in additional to creating and coordinating the school’s new advisory program. 

Considering her work at and Arlington High School, Skidmore said Villano is the right person to lead the high school after his departure. 

“Certainly she will be able to move the school forward,” said Skidmore.

Due to budget cuts, the assistant principal vacancy will not be filled during Villano's interim year as head principal. The district will wait until until the new school year to begin the search for a permanent head principal 

“I think we will be in a better position next year, sometime in the late fall to begin the search for a principal,” said Bodie.

Though she believes the high school will be in good hands with Villano as principal, Bodie lamented the loss of Skidmore’s leadership.

 “With the passion and care he has, we are grateful for all his years [at the high school] and sad that there won’t be more ahead with him,” she said.