NORTHAMPTON, Pa. — Northampton Area Superintendent Joseph Kovalchik has officially nixed his plans to retire at the end of the school year.
On Monday, Northampton Area School Board approved the decision, rescinding Kovalchik’s retirement, which was set for July 1.
The board also rescinded the retirement of Kovalchik’s wife, a middle school reading specialist.
“My goal was not to bleed money out of the school district. I don’t operate that way.”Joseph Kovalchik, Northampton Area Superintendent
Kovalchik, 57, will continue leading the district for the time being. He’s been chief of schools for nearly 15 years, and his current contract expires June 30, 2027. His annual salary is $204,000.
Kovalchik’s contract and pay will not change because he opted to stay in his role.
“My goal was not to bleed money out of the school district,” Kovalchik said. “I don’t operate that way.”
Kovalchik said he's staying in his role because he loves the district and wants to see it succeed.
He's been an educator and administrator in Northampton Area for 34 years. He’s also a 1986 graduate of the district.
“Everybody gets replaced at some point in life, and I fully understand that,” Kovalchik said.
“But again, where we stand as a district right now, I think institutional knowledge…could be advantageous for the board of education and the community at large.”
'It shows your concern'
Kovalchik said it’s necessary for him to continue guiding the district through its current challenges, such as ongoing construction projects and looming budget deficits.
Kovalchik also said he wants to allow enough time for any future successor to properly transition into the leadership role.
Board President Kristin Soldridge said Kovalchik’s decision to remain superintendent developed out of conversations with the school board over the past few weeks.
“We are looking forward to working together as we face these challenges and moving the district forward together."Kristin Soldridge, Northampton Area School Board President
“We are looking forward to working together as we face these challenges and moving the district forward together,” Soldridge said at Monday’s meeting.
Tim Harris, a Moore Township resident, said during public comment that it was “very unselfish” for Kovalchik to delay his retirement and continue leading Northampton Area.
“It shows your concern for the school district,” Harris told the superintendent.
Paul Nikisher, a Lehigh Township resident, also said he’s glad Kovalchik is staying with the district.
“I think we could really use your expertise and also your experience throughout the years as we move ahead," Nikisher told Kovalchik during public comment.
"Because there’s some difficult times, which we can all see.”
Why was Kovalchik retiring?
Kovalchik said he planned to retire for multiple reasons, including personal health and family obligations.
But some school directors said board dysfunction was the main factor in Kovalchik's initial retirement plans.
In late November, some school directors held an informal board meeting to discuss how to persuade Kovalchik to stay in his role.
Those school directors — John Becker, Michael Baird, Ross Makary and Doug Vaughn — said their colleagues caused the “chaos” that led to Kovalchik’s retirement in the first place.
In the months leading up to Kovalchik’s November retirement announcement, it was apparent at public meetings that the superintendent was growing increasingly frustrated with school directors, who often were at odds with one another.
When there was disagreement amongst the board, school directors often found themselves split into two opposing factions.
On one side, Becker, Baird, Makary and Vaughn aligned on issues. On the other side, Soldridge, Kim Bretzik, Joshua Harris, Nathan Lichtenwalner and Brian McCulloch often aligned, holding the board majority.
Last week, Vaughn told LehighValleyNews.com that Kovalchik planned to retire because the superintendent found “the antics of some of the newer school board members frustrating and not productive.”
'Trying to work together'
Vaughn, who was school board president last year, said Kovalchik decided to stay on as chief of schools after a closed-door meeting in which he expressed his “grievances against members of the school board.”
It was that meeting that gave Kovalchik the confidence to continue working with the board, Vaughn said.
“Those comments were inappropriate and careless. They should have never been said.”Kristin Soldridge, Northampton Area Board President
But board President Soldridge pushed back on Vaughn’s claims at Monday’s board meeting and chastised him for his comments to LehighValleyNews.com last week.
“Those comments were inappropriate and careless,” Soldridge said. “They should have never been said.”
“The information he gave was completely false and inaccurate."
Vaughn told LehighValleyNews.com Monday that he stands by the comments he made.
"They're trying to silence me because they don't like what I have to say," Vaughn said.
Despite the tiff between Soldridge and Vaughn, tensions have noticeably eased at recent school board meetings.
When asked about board dynamics after Monday’s meeting, Kovalchik said he’s seen school directors work to be more collaborative recently.
He described the last few school board meetings as “very productive.”
“I really think they’re trying to work together and be professional, and I appreciate that,” he said.
