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A school board with at least three new members will take on the job of finding a replacement for Frederick County Public Schools Superintendent Linda Burgee. Burgee, 55, announced her retirement Tuesday afternoon, effective July 1, two years shy of fulfilling her current four-year contract.

"They will probably start in December and will have to decide who will conduct the search," said Michael Schaden, a Board of Education member who is not seeking re-election this year. "She's done as much as she can. I think she's ready to get her life back, much the same way I wanted to get my life back."

Schaden said it is important for the new board to have a superintendent they select themselves.

Burgee resigned with two weeks to go before the Sept. 14 primary election. The seats of four board members are up for election; Jean Smith is the only incumbent running for the non-partisan seven-person panel. A final slate of four candidates will be selected by voters in the Nov. 9 general election.

According to Schaden, in selecting a new superintendent the board can choose between a service provided by the Maryland State Board of Education or can opt for a headhunter service that specializes in finding school superintendents.

Selecting a new superintendent can take as long as six months, depending on how the Board of Education conducts the process and whether it includes forums for community input, Schaden said. Burgee's contract stipulates that she give five months' written notice upon retirement or resignation.

"A lot will be determined by the new board," said Gary Brennan, president of the Frederick County Teachers' Association. "This takes her out of the election, and I hope that now people can take some time to focus on the positive because lately there's been so much emphasis on negatives like the Taj Mahal [the recently opened school system central office building in downtown Frederick] and bonuses."

While Brennan expects the new board will look for someone with a sound fiscal approach, he said he hopes that it also looks for someone who understands what students and teachers need to be successful.

Burgee will wrap up a 35-year career with Frederick County Public Schools, including five years as superintendent and one year as acting superintendent. She began as an elementary school teacher, rose to assistant principal and principal, then took on the role of elementary instructional director and then associate superintendent.

She served as interim superintendent for the 2004-05 school year after Jack Dale resigned to become superintendent of Fairfax County Public Schools in Virginia.

Burgee officially became superintendent July 1, 2005 and her contract was renewed on July 1, 2009 for four years. She supervises about 5,400 employees and an estimated 40,000 students. She receives a salary of $201,811 plus $40,000 for a retirement plan, plus bonuses.

Burgee was unavailable for comment. In a press release issued Tuesday, she described her years with the school system as a "rewarding journey," and said she is particularly proud of having led the school system in improving achievement for all students, while narrowing the achievement gap for at-risk students.

kheerbrandt@gazette.net