NORTH BALTIMORE — Marlene North has announced her plans to step down as the school district’s
superintendent.The board of education approved her retirement request at its meeting Tuesday.Her last day
will be June 30, 2014.North will be finishing with 31 years in education, nine as a special needs teacher in
three other districts, and 22 in North Baltimore. She served 18 years as the Powell Elementary principal and
since 2010 as superintendent after first serving as interim superintendent."As I move into retirement,
I look forward to spending time with my family, taking care of my parents, becoming more involved in my
church, getting my hands dirty again in my garden, and spending countless hours reading just for fun,"
she said at the meeting.She explained that one of her deciding factors to retire now is a change in the
state education retirement system.If she doesn’t retire this year she will have to put in 35 years before
leaving.And with other challenges out there, “right now feels like a good time to transition.”She’d like to
see someone with a strong background in curriculum and data take her place.She said what she’ll miss most is
the contact with students and staff. What she won’t miss is checking the roads during bad weather.North has
a daughter in sixth grade in North Baltimore and her husband also works for the district, so she will remain
in the village and already is contemplating volunteering in the schools.Russell Bretz, school board
president, said the board has been expecting North to make a decision.With changes in the retirement plan
and with a young family, “I applaud that.”He commended her for her hard work in getting the new middle/high
school built. “She was our lead representative.”“She’s done a great job,” he added." She was always
accessible for community members to discuss problems or concerns and she has forged an important working
relationship with business and industry leaders in the area," Bretz wrote in a press release.Finding a
replacement will be difficult, he said, especially someone who fits well into the small village.“The school
is pretty much the center of what goes on around here,” Bretz stated.The board also accepted the retirement
request from Ann Glamm, payroll coordinator, effective Dec. 1. She’s been with the district at least 23
years."She has just been a God-send to us," said district Treasurer Eve Baldwin.The board approved
a contract with Tri-Com Services for payroll coordination, effectively doing Glamm’s duties. The contract is
for $400 per pay period beginning Dec. 1.That amount is under what Glamm was earning, said Baldwin.