Interim schools superintendent to resign

NEW MILFORD — New Milford Public Schools’ interim superintendent is resigning.

Paul Smotas, who took over in August after the previous superintendent resigned after serving for a year, is set to leave his role on Oct. 30 to go back to North Carolina and attend to “personal family matters,” according to a news release from the school board.

This wasn’t the first time Smotas had served as an interim superintendent — he’s previously assumed the role in four towns’ school systems. Smotas, an educator with decades of experience, stepped up to the task in New Milford after the former leader of the school system, Kerry Parker, left for a different position in Colorado.

The announcement comes after news of another personnel change in the district this week, with New Milford High School principal Greg Shugrue sharing he would leave his post to become the school system’s interim human resources director at the beginning of November.

The board lauded Smotas’ management of the back-toschool transition during the pandemic in the release.

“The Board is extremely grateful to Dr. Smotas for everything he has accomplished in the short time he has been in New Milford,” the release read. “While the Board obviously understands his reasons for leaving, it is sincerely sorry to see him go.”

The board is starting to look for the next superintendent, the release read.

Smotas did not immediately respond to an emailed request for comment.