Wicomico Superintendent Fredericksen to leave in 2016

To no surprise to insiders, Wicomico Superintendent of Schools John Fredericksen announced he would not seek to renew his four-year contract when it ends next June.

"During the past seven years our teams have worked hard and have had wonderful successes with our students and schools," Fredericksen said in a news release. "I have been glad to serve Wicomico students, families and staff as part of a dedicated and effective team. I look forward to continuing this work for the next school year, but will not seek to extend my time as superintendent beyond next June. At that point in my life, and after a very long and satisfying career in public education, I will be ready to relocate along with my wife Renee closer to our children and grandchildren. I wanted to give the Board plenty of notice so it could begin a superintendent search."

At least veteran members of the Wicomico Board of Education knew "several months" that Fredericksen would step down at the end of his contract.

"He made the announcement today, but the board has known several months that Dr. Fredericksen was not seeking a new contract," said Ronald Willey, president of the Wicomico Board of Education. "He had already expressed his desire to be close to his grandchildren and daughters across the bay." Fredericksen also "may continue in education in another capacity. As the new school year begins, it was time to make the announcement."

Fredericksen's announcement greeted the newest members at their first school board meeting: Delmar resident John Palmer and Joe Ollinger of Salisbury. They were recently appointed to five-year terms by the office of Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan to replace former Gov. Martin O'Malley appointees Marvin Blye, whose job moved from the region; and Larry Dodd, who resigned to successfully seek a seat on the Wicomico County Council.

The superintendent's 2016 departure will come one year board members Tyrone Chase and current board president Ronald Willey will also have to step down from the board. By June 2017, both of them would have served two, five-year terms, and by law, could not seek appointment to a third.

Fredericksen began serving as Wicoimco's top educator on July 1, 2008, and received a second four-year contract in 2012. His tenure is among the longest in the state of Maryland.

He said Tuesday that recent tension between the school system and county government did not affect his decision. The rhetoric on both sides has increased in recent weeks.

"I made the basic decision last spring, a year ago," Fredericksen said, pointing to the fact he had already been in conversation with the board about the decision in September 2014.

More than a year ago, after participating in a retirement planning seminar, he began to consider retiring as superintendent of Wicomico County public schools, and discussed his plans with the board president and other board members.

"So that was before Bob Culver or any others got elected," he added.

The superintendent, who is 64 years old, said his family played a key role in his decision, who live near the Washington D.C. area.

"I want to be closer to my grandkids," Fredericksen said. "I was always working two full-time jobs when they were young."

With June 30, 2016 only a little more than a year away, he said he felt "really fortunate" to have been the county superintendent for eight years, with studies showing superintendents in urban areas averaging three and 1/2 years in office.

As a career educator, starting as a music teacher in St. Michael-Alberville, Minnesota in 1972, he said his time in the educational field might not be completely over.

He said he's exploring options to become a college adjunct professor, citing the lighter work schedule as still important to his desire to be closer with his family.

Willey said newest members to the seven-member school board would have a year's experience by June 2016, and three others are seasoned members.

"We've got other people who have been on there a while," he said. "I believe new members will understand some of the challenges we face and help us move forward."

With Fredericksen's announcement on Tuesday, the board will now move forward with hiring a firm to begin the search for a new superintendent in 2016.

"Dr. Fredericksen has faced the most challenging economic crisis in regards to funding the needs of our schools during his time as superintendent. Throughout this time, his focus has remained on addressing the needs of all students, from the homeless to the most affluent," said Board President Ron Willey in a release. "This Board understands the weight of this responsibility and appreciates his service. I can certainly appreciate his desire to relocate nearer to his children and grandchildren."

During Superindentent John Fredericksen's time with Wicomico County Public Schools, the school system has moved forward on many things, including:

•Enhanced communication with families through tools including the automated calling system, for which Fredericksen records messages in English, Spanish and, in the past year, Korean, in an effort to communicate important information with as many families as possible.

•Launched the Family Portal for students in grades 3-12 and their families, for easy access to grades, assignments, attendance, and other information.

•Worked consistently and conscientiously on closing the achievement gap between different subgroups of students, such as students qualifying for Free and Reduced Meals and students not qualifying, and students from different racial subgroups. Small but significant strides have been made with the goal of ensuring success for every student.

•Ranked slightly above average for school systems of comparable size and statistics on many measures including graduation rate, attendance, and test scores. This success has come despite years of funding challenges, a rise in the FARM rate from around 40 percent to nearly 60 percent, and an ESOL population that has tripled in recent years.

•Opened two new school buildings (James M. Bennett High and Bennett Middle), completed extensive improvements to two other buildings (Northwestern Elementary, Pittsville Elementary and Middle), and began James M. Bennett High Phase 3 to complete that school project.

SOURCE: Wicomico County Public Schools

Editor's Note: This story was updated to reflect board member Jon Palmer is a Delmar resident and that fellow board of education members Ronald Willey's and Tyrone Chase's terms end in 2017.