Medford Superintendent's Contract Extended

Medford Public Schools Superintendent Roy Belson will be staying in his position for at least another two years.

The longtime school official was officially given a two-year extension of his contract by the Medford School Committee Monday evening. His current contract was set to expire June 30, and he's now under contract through June 30, 2015.

According to Belson, the committee agreed to the extension after conducting their review of Belson April 1 and worked out the final details of the new contract Monday.

Belson's tenure with Medford Public Schools dates back to his hiring as a teacher in 1969. A Medford native, Belson has served in several school capacities, becoming an administrator in 1982 and later ascending to superintendent in 1995.

He's proud of presiding over the re-building of all of Medford's elementary and middle schools in the late-'90s. Belson said 90 percent of the cost for the new buildings was picked up by the state, with the other 10 percent coming from the sale price of the old school properties.

At 66, Belson said Tuesday night he's thought about stepping aside, but feels the school department has many important projects he'd like to see completed.

Some of those include the new science lab project at Medford High School and the implementation of a new teacher evaluation system among others.

"Some of these things we've started, I'd like to see finished as well," said Belson.

In addition, the high school will face the accreditation process in 2014 and Belson mentioned that three Medford schools currently have principals in their first year.

"I still feel very vital," Belson said, noting how much he still enjoys helping people after seeing more than one generation pass through Medford's schools.

Having said that, Belson said the School Committee has already begun to work on plans for an eventual "transition" to the next generation of leaders for the school district.

"We want to be ready when that time comes," he said.

Belson said he still feels he works well with the School Committee, Medford Mayor Michael McGlynn and the City Council, where he appeared Tuesday night.

Belson was asking the council to consider a letter of interest to the Massachusetts School Building Authority about the replacement of HVAC systems at the high school, a resolution passed unanimously by the council.

One councilor took the chance to congratulate Belson on his new contract.

"Roy Belson has been a great leader in this community," said Councilor Paul Camuso.