BEVERLY — Superintendent James Hayes' retirement won't last long.
Hayes was named superintendent of schools in Newmarket, N.H., on Monday. He'll start his new job on July 1, the day after his contract in Beverly runs out.
"I'm thrilled," he said. "I was looking for a job that was closer to home, in a small community in New Hampshire, that was a good match for my skills and interests. This works on all of those counts."
Hayes lives in Hampstead, N.H., and was a finalist for two other superintendent jobs in that state.
Hayes, 62, announced last June that he would retire at the end of the school year after six years as Beverly superintendent and 39 years as an educator. Massachusetts law allows him to collect a full pension while working in another state.
Hayes' salary this year is $164,000. He could get a pension as high as 80 percent of that amount. The Newmarket superintendent's job was advertised with a salary range of $95,000 to $115,000.
Newmarket is a town of 9,000 people five miles south of Durham. It has two schools and 1,110 students, compared to Beverly's seven schools and 4,400 students.
Newmarket School Board Chairman Cliff Chase said the board chose Hayes in particular because of his experience in dealing with the building of a new high school in Beverly.
"We have facilities needs in our school district, and we'll be looking for his guidance," Chase said.
Hayes is scheduled to begin in Newmarket on July 1, but Chase said he hopes Hayes can attend "transition meetings" before then.
Hayes is in the middle of the difficult process of formulating next year's school budget and determining which programs to cut to close a budget gap. The School Committee is scheduled to meet again on May 17 to discuss the budget. A public hearing on the budget is planned for May 27.
Assistant Superintendent Marie Galinski will become superintendent on July 1.
Staff writer Paul Leighton can be reached at 978-338-2675 or by e-mail at pleighton@salemnews.com.
Raw Video: Hail Storm Batters Oklahoma City
California's Foie Gras Ban About to Begin
6-Year-Old Going to National Spelling Bee
Video Essay: Funky Winkerbean Comic Turns 40
On Thailand Trip, Suu Kyi Visits Migrants
Raw Video: Pink Diamond Auctioned for $17.4M
Hurricane Andrew Remembered, 20 Years Later
Sister Says She Reported Brother in Patz Killing
Patz Suspect's Sister: I Went to Police in 1980s
Diplomatic Expulsions Follow Fresh Syria Report
15 Dead in Northern Italy's 5.8-magnitude Quake
Witness Describes Fla. Face-chewing Attack
Man Falls Off Crane, Dies After Police Standoff
Russia Condemns Ally Syria Over Massacre of 108
Dairy Farm Uses Chiropractor to Help Cows
Unexpected Smog in Pristine National Parks
Air Canada Plane Makes Emergency Landing
New Ticks Spread Across Southeast, Diseases Rise
Bring Your Own Tech Programs Charge Up Students
Service Dogs Help Wash. Soldiers Battling PTSD
