The Brookhaven School District will be under new management comethe 2011-12 school year after District Superintendent Lea Barrettand Assistant Superintendent James Tillman both announced theirpending retirements last week.

Barrett and Tillman announced their coming retirements at themonthly school board meeting Tuesday night in an executive session.Barrett said they both will leave whenever the board findsreplacements, up to June 30, 2011.

“I’d like to retire as soon after Christmas as it works for them,”Barrett said Friday. “But it’s just whatever they need me todo.

“If they need me stay until June 30, I’d be glad to do that,” shecontinued. “But if they found someone quickly, I told them, ‘I canget my little pictures off the wall whenever you say so.'”

Tillman said the decision was based on the idea that the boardwould have plenty of time to find suitable replacements for thepositions.

“We told the board we’ll work as long as they want us to work, andwe want to give them ample time to get someone,” he said. “We’regoing to stay in the positions that we are appointed to and do thejob until that time.”

Barrett is in her seventh year as the district’s superintendent andher 32nd year in education, and she said neither she nor Tillman isleaving for other jobs. They just simply felt it was time to moveon while the school district was on a high note, Barrettsaid.

“I did think about it a lot, and I felt like this is a good timefor the board to recruit because right now we are very attractive,”she said. “We’re in good financial shape, and we have a greatboard, and good test scores…. When I talk to people in placesthat aren’t so blessed they ask if I’m touched in the head forwanting to leave.”

Tillman said he feels the same way.

“I’ve been in education 42 years, it’s time for me to get out alittle bit,” Tillman said. “I want to leave in a time I feel theschool district is in good shape, we have good test scores, we havegreat facilities and great parental and community support. I feelthat it’s the right time to do it.”

While Barrett said she plans to take some time to relax and be withfamily, Tillman said he plans to increase his activity with hiselection commissioner position and his church activities.

“This district is wonderful, and I will always and forever be aPanther promoter and pusher and supporter,” Barrett said. “I amlooking forward to some free time, but public education is my love.I believe in it, and I support it.”

Tillman said he, too, carries years of memories that he’ll treasurewhen he leaves the halls of academia behind.

“I’ve had the opportunity to teach or be an administrator over someof my classmates’ and schoolmates’ children, and the last two orthree years to be the administrator over my students’ children,” hesaid. “I’ve had a great experience here. Hopefully I’ll go outknowing that I did make a contribution to this community.”

School Board President Dan Brown said the announcement wasunexpected, but that the board is grateful to the pair ofadministrators for giving them time to conduct a thorough searchfor replacements.

“They’ve done such a good job, and we’ve been very pleased withtheir leadership,” he said. “We’re in the planning stage, lookingforward to getting a search committee so we can take the time tofind someone in their category. We enjoyed Mrs. Barrett and Mr.Tillman, and we want to wish them the best of luck. They were verygood for the district, for the community too, and they’re going outon a good note.”

And both Barrett and Tillman said they will still be fixturesaround the community.

“I’m not leaving for another job, I’m not leaving because I’munhappy, because I love this place,” Barrett said. “Brookhaven ismy home now.”

Brown said the school board will put out applications through thestate Department of Education, and will begin the search for a newsuperintendent and assistant superintendent as soon aspossible.