The Middletown Press (Middletown, CT)
Schools chief to retire in June
PORTLAND — Superintendent of Schools Philip B. O’Reilly said of his choice to announce he would retire at the end of the 2018-19 school year that “it was a very difficult decision to make.”
The Massachusetts native has been a professional educator for the past 38 years and superintendent in Portland since July 2014.
“I feel very lucky to have been here,” O’Reilly said during a conversation in his office on the second floor of Town Hall.
“I like the town and I like the people. I have a very strong administrative team, and I think the world of Sue Bransfield and Tom Robinson,” he said, referring to First Selectwoman Susan S. Bransfield and Director of Finance Tom E. Robinson.
O’Reilly’s staff, and, in particular, the Board of Education “have been really been supportive and positive.”
There is cooperation between and among O’Reilly, Bransfield, Robinson and Board of Education Chairwoman MaryAnne Rode, he said.
“We’re all on the same team,” he said in an observation seconded by the first selectwoman. “We don’t always approach things the same way.”
But by allowing everyone to interact and to be heard, “That’s the way we find the best solution.”
“I love the adage ‘Come On Over,’ ” O’Reilly said about Portland’s welcome to the world emblazoned on a wall on the Connecticut River waterfront facing Middletown.
“I love it because what it’s really about is ‘Come on over and see what we’re doing in a quiet and special way.’”
When he left New Hartford to take over as superintendent of Portland, one of O’Reilly’s goals was to get the board more involved in both deciding which steps to take and, more importantly, in reviewing and revising the policies and procedures that govern the district.
“I want to keep defaulting back to the board,” he said.
The wiry and athletic O’Reilly said one of his greatest satisfactions has been “the interaction with kids.”
He was particularly pleased Monday to have been greeted by a student who “addressed me as ‘Dr. O’Reilly.’ He knew me by my name. That tells me I’m doing the right job” by being visible to students, parents and the community at large, he said.
It signals both a commitment on his part to the town while also providing him with an opportunity to get feedback from residents, O’Reilly said.
“Because it’s important that the board takes its time to find the right leader,” he said, when asked why he’s announcing his choice to step down next year. “And it’s a reflection of my transparency: ‘If you make a decision, why hold back?’ ”
The father of six children, O’Reilly said his family is “growing exponentially” with a proliferation of grandchildren. “I’ve always pushed myself up the ladder and now I am going to retire as a full-time superintendent.”
O’Reilly said he is not abandoning the profession completely. He will stay involved in education at some level, as an interim superintendent or perhaps even by going back into the classroom.
“Obviously, it was not good news,” Rode said about the day O’Reilly announced he intended to retire. The Board of Education “was surprised at his announcement. And I don’t think it has fully sunk in yet.
“He’s done some amazing things in the district, and we’ve been so pleased with what he has accomplished that we would welcome the opportunity of having him for several more years,” she added.
However, “We have started to interview a search committee in anticipation that we will be starting a search process in the fall. In fact, it’s on our agenda for Tuesday,” Rode added.
As much as she would like to keep O’Reilly, Rode said being a superintendent is becoming a more and more stressful job. So much so, “there’s a ton of superintendents’ slots to be filled. I want to say above 20.
“There have been so many changes in term of state and federal regulations and unfunded mandates” — requirements imposed by the state which do not carry funding to implement them, he said.
“It’s a lot to deal with. You just get the hang of one of them and then they change it. It gets wearing,” Rode added.
One thing both O’Reilly and Rode are especially proud of is the work he has done in revising BOE policies.
“He started this when he arrived: a complete overhaul of our policies and procedures. And he has made sure there is a constant review and a constant updating. The work has been immense,” Rode said.
“We have policies from 1996,” she said with a tone of disbelief. “He did a first pass, and now we are going back and digging deeper. It’s a huge project and very labor-intensive. It’s a huge initiative.
“There are a ton of things he has started. And it would be great to see bring them to closure. But … ” she trailed off.
Their offices are just across the hall from one another and it not uncommon for Bransfield to walk into his office or O’Reilly to do the same in hers.
“He’s been a great superintendent with a great team,” Bransfield said. “I’m very sorry he’s retiring. I’m very grateful for all the great things he’s done for our town and our school community with all the concerts and activities.”
Just witness the way he handled the fireworks celebration, Bransfield said. When the Fireworks Committee asked if it could move the annual display to the high school, O’Reilly was an immediate and enthusiastic supporter of the idea.
“There’s been great interaction between the town government and the education department,” she said, acknowledging it is not always the case in every community.
Bransfield said she is “pleased with how well we the finance department, the board and the superintendent’s office have worked together. We’re a great team, and I am very grateful for Dr. O’Reilly’s leadership.”
“What he has done he has done in a genuine, open, honest and transparent way with the town, the district and the board. And you can’t ask for more than that from a superintendent,” Rode said.