BEVERLY — McKeown Elementary School Principal Colleen McBride has resigned, days before finding out if her school will close, to begin a job in the Merrimack Valley.
After eight years at McKeown, McBride is leaving as the community struggles to determine the future of Beverly public schools. She starts July 1 at South Elementary School in Andover.
"Due to unfortunate circumstances (the threat of McKeown School closing), it was natural that I explore other career opportunities," she said in a written statement. "I think it's important that people have choices in life. In order to have choices you need to educate yourself and take the initiative to research your options.
"My exploration was bittersweet because I am saying 'goodbye' to a school community I truly love."
Voters decide today if McKeown will close. If the city passes a Proposition 21/2 override, it will remain open and the school district will stay the same in September — minus both McBride and retiring Centerville School Principal Bill Foley. Property taxes will also permanently increase by about $185 a year for a home assessed at $450,000.
If it doesn't pass, McKeown will close and students at the remaining five elementary schools will be moved around as part of a citywide redistricting.
On Friday, parents received a letter McBride sent in the mail announcing she was leaving. At the Andover school, she will replace Eileen Woods, who announced her retirement in January. It is a $107,000-a-year position.
PTO President Julie DeSilva said she will be missed.
"It's a huge loss to this community," she said. "She's a phenomenal administrator no matter what school she would have gone to."
However, she said she also understands McBride's decision.
"When the school you love has been on the chopping block three times in the past four years, the writing is on the wall," DeSilva said.
McKeown — the city's smallest elementary school — has been in jeopardy of closing as part of past attempts to consolidate elementary schools.
"I leave McKeown School with such fond memories that can never be taken from me or replaced," McBride said. "In addition to raising academic expectations each year, we have proven our community spirit over and over again — care packages to soldiers, bookmobile drives, recycling efforts, assisting the homeless, to name a few."
She said she hopes McKeown remains one of the city's elementary schools, and commended the teachers, staff, parents and students for making it such a great place. She also alluded to another Beverly elementary school, which was closed in 2002.
"No matter what the outcome (of the election), those associated with the McKay and McKeown schools should be proud of the legacy of learning that took place over many years, and the investment made in the lives of hundreds of children," she said.
