By Cate Lecuyer
BEVERLY — Bob Gass, executive director of the North Shore Education Consortium, plans to retire in June after leading the school for nine years.
Gass, 63, said he plans to stay in his hometown of Randolph, but will continue to pursue his life's work.
"The passion for me is trying to make a difference in the lives of kids and families," he said. "I hope to continue to do that in the public or nonprofit world. Some of it may be paid, some of it may not."
A search committee is currently advertising the position, which pays a salary between $120,000 and $150,000 a year.
Gas said he wants to spend more time with his wife, who retired last year, and his grandchildren, but will miss working at the consortium.
While there, Gass has seen the collaborative membership grow from 12 to 18 school districts. With an emphasis on challenged students and specialized services, the consortium was one of the first regional educational collaboratives in the state, established in 1974.
"We're really trying to move beyond just special needs," Gass said.
The school has increased its fundraising efforts, as well as outreach efforts with a new family center. Administrators developed a summer program for kids that are academically talented and are working to improve curriculum through a Teaching American History federal grant for example, Gass said.
He's also helped secure quality spaces for all of the consortium's programs, which included working with Superintendent James Hayes to rent space in the Memorial Building, and also moving the Northshore Academy program into the McKeown public school.
"That relationship has been great," Gass said. Hayes is also leaving in June, and Gass said he hopes both replacements will continue to work together.
"We've done a lot with it," Gass said. "But I think now is a good time for someone new to come in."
Staff writer Cate Lecuyer can be reached at clecuyer@salemnews.com.
