Wakefield Schools' Business Administrator Michael Connelly Leaves for Lincoln-Sudbury

Michael Connelly, who has served as Wakefield Public Schoool's business administrator for the last four years, has accepted a new job as finance director in Lincoln-Sudbury.

Connelly said the excitement of a new job at is a bit offset by the relationships he'll leave behind in Wakefield.

But the current Wakefield business administrator said the opportunity to join L-S as its new finance director was something he couldn't turn down.

"I sort of decided a month or two ago to start looking for new opportunities," said Connelly, who was unanimously voted in by the L-S Regional High School Committee on Monday. "When I saw the Lincoln-Sudbury opening and did some research, it seemed as a very professional, prestigious organization."

Connelly has spent the last four years serving as Wakefield's business administrator. He'll begin his new position at L-S on July 1 with mixed emotions.

"Anytime you move on, especially when you have devoted so much time and energy in your current position and developed close relationships ... it's going to be a difficult few months when I move on in July," he said. "It's never easy. I'm certainly excited, but it's never easy to move on."

Connelly said he met with Superintendent/Principal Scott Carpenter and the school committee last week and came away feeling immediately welcomed.

"I got the impression they were highly professional, extremely enthusiastic about education and improving opportunities for students," he said. "That came out first and foremost."

Connelly's past professional experience includes working as the assistant business administrator for the Wellesley School District and director of finance and operations for Excel Charter School in East Boston.