After serving 33 years as an educator, 28 of them in Carson City, Jim Parry will leave his post as superintendent next July to pursue a different career.
"The law of economics dictates that I change careers," Parry said. "I'm at a point in my life when I need to maximize my income."
The retirement system in the school district allows an employee to collect a 75 percent pension after 30 years. Every additional year earns that employee a 2.5 percent increase.
By next July, Parry will be able to collect 82.5 percent of his $98,320 salary.
"If I kept working, I would only be working for 17 and a half percent of my salary," he said. "This is purely an economical decision."
School Board Trustee John McKenna said the announcement at Tuesday's board meeting will not come as a surprise.
"It is one of those planned-for transitions," he said.
Parry said when he accepted the position three years ago he promised the board to stay on for four years.
"I fully intended to make good on that promise, Lord willing," he said. His resignation will be effective after completing his fourth year.
One of Parry's main roles as superintendent was to create stability within the district and build teamwork after his predecessor Leon Mattingley was fired after serving for 14 months.
McKenna said Parry achieved that goal.
"Jim's done a good job for the district. He's a good educator and a very good manager," McKenna said. "He's done a great job of modernizing this district."
The board plans to discuss filling the vacancy on Tuesday.
"It should be a very smooth transition to a new superintendent," McKenna said.
Parry, 53, graduated from the University of Illinois. He spent the first five years of his career teaching in an inner-city Chicago elementary school.
He came to Carson City 28 years ago and spent five years teaching at Fritsch and Fremont elementary schools. He later became the principal of Fremont Elementary and served in that capacity for 10 years.
He spent the next 10 years as associate superintendent before becoming the superintendent.
Although Parry is not sure what his next career move will be, he is sure that he wants to stay in Carson City.
"This is my home. This is my town. This is my school district," he said. "I plan to stay right here."
Among possible candidates for Parry's replacement is Assistant Superintendent Mary Pierczynski.
