Dr. G ready to retire at end of the school year

Date: 1/5/2009

By Courtney Llewellyn

Reminder Assistant Editor



WILBRAHAM Dr. Paul Gagliarducci, superintendent of schools for the Hampden-Wilbraham Regional School District, formally announced last Monday that he would be retiring from his position as of June 30, 2009.

Gagliarducci was hired in August 2001, and will have served almost eight full years with the school district by the time he retires.

"I've been thinking about it [retirement] for over a year," Gagliarducci told Reminder Publications. "This has been my personal and professional life for 29 years, and I've been a superintendent for 21. It's a taxing job. To do this effectively, you have to dedicate a lot of time to it. It's time for me to explore other opportunities. I wanted to see what else was out there."

A graduate of Technical High School in Springfield, Gagliarducci has spent almost his entire educational career in Massachusetts. He earned his bachelor's degree from Fitchburg State College, his master's from Springfield College and his doctorate from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. He either taught or served as an assistant principal in the West Springfield, Southampton and Tantasqua Regional (made up of Brimfield, Brookfield, Holland, Wales and Sturbridge) school districts, going just over the state line to serve as a superintendent in Somers, Conn., for 14 years.

He said he has no plans to move after retiring, but he will not be staying home.

"I have no specific goal other than to be employed on some level," he said. "I still have a lot to offer."

Gagliarducci, 61, said he may look to continue his work in an educational field but that his future is "pretty wide open."

"I've really enjoyed the people and the kids, those who work for the school district, parents and other community members," he said. "I was very fortunate to have been selected [to serve as superintendent here]."

The Hampden-Wilbraham School Committee will discuss whether or not they wish to hire a search committee to find Gagliarducci's replacement at its next meeting, taking place Jan. 13 at 7 p.m. at Minnechaug Regional High School.