Assistant Superintendent James R. Donovan Ending 43-Year Journey in Norwood School System-November 6, 1980

Retirement of Longtime Educator Expected to Prompt Administrative Restructuring and Cost-Cutting Measures

James R. Donovan, 60, assistant superintendent for secondary education, will retire Dec. 31 after 43 years in the local school system. Donovan had been expected to retire before the end of the school year. Making the formal announcement to the school committee last night, he said, “I prefer to go Dec. 31. My time has come.” Referring to his 30 years as a teacher and administrator and another 13 as a student teacher and substitute, he said, “In every respect, it has been an interesting journey.”

His retirement will lead to a restructuring of the school administration, which critics have said is top-heavy with administrators. Speculation is that his position will not be filled. That would leave only one assistant superintendent, Umberto V.C. Napoleone, now assistant superintendent for elementary schools. Donovan was given a six percent pay raise in June and a $3,000 retirement incentive which reportedly brought his current salary up to nearly $38,000. Donovan initiated the evening adult education program and served for many years as its director. For the last 10 years he has represented the school department on the permanent building committee and has been president of the Norwood Teachers’ Club, president of the School Executives Association and a member of the board of directors of the New England Association for Schools, College and University Staffing. He served for many years on the board of directors of the Old Colony Council, Boy Scouts of America, and the Community Chest.

Archival Note: This article has been dynamically reconstructed from the original public record print archives of the Patriot Ledger