Apr 18, 2002 By Ted Boscia 3 min read

MAPLETOWN – After superintendent James F. Burns closed the book on 40 years in public education last month, Southeastern Greene School Board made plans Wednesday to search for his replacement. Board member Gary Moser announced a special executive session for Wednesday, April 24 at 6 p.m. to deal with personnel issues, including the hunt for a person to fill the district’s top administrative post.

“That’s partially what the executive session is for on Wednesday,” Burns said. “We will sit down and discuss it in the near future.”

He indicated, however, that finding a replacement is not the sole purpose of the special meeting.

Burns submitted his resignation to the board in March, although it won’t take effect until June 28. The board hired Burns to a five-year contract in August 1999, after then-superintendent Terry Kirschler left the district for a similar position in the Burgettstown Area School District.

“Forty years was enough for me,” Burns said. “Now, I can watch the grandkids and cut the grass.”

While Burns was eager to begin his retirement, his contribution to the school district will be missed, according to board president George Billetz Sr.

“There’s been a lot of changes made since he came in,” Billetz said. “We hate to see him leave, but he’s been in for 40 years.”

When Burns was hired, many board members raved about his wealth of experience, noting that he was the first administrator hired in many years to have worked as a superintendent for another district.

“He came in with some experience,” Billetz said Wednesday. “That’s one of the main reasons we hired him.”

The district has been a revolving door for administrators over the years, largely because many are lured by larger contracts in other districts, Billetz said. However, Burns stressed that he was resigning to retire.

Prior to his arrival at Southeastern Greene, Burns steered the Uniontown Area School District as superintendent from 1988 to 1998. The board dropped his contract as superintendent in December 1997, and Burns left the district amidst contract disputes in June 1998 after 29 years in administrative positions.

In July 2000, Uniontown Area School Board voted to pay Burns $351,652 to settle legal claims stemming from his dismissal in 1998.

Burns began his career in 1968 at Rostraver Township Junior High School before becoming junior-senior high school principal in the Carmichaels Area School District in 1968. In 1971, Burns was named an assistant high school principal for Uniontown and was promoted to high school principal in 1975. During his tenure at Uniontown, Burns also served as coordinator of curriculum and instruction for several years.