TIVERTON — Superintendent William Rearick has announced that he will retire from the Tiverton School District, effective June 30, 2019, when his current contract with the district expires.
Mr. Rearick made the announcement at the most recent school committee meeting July 11.
"The timing gives us a chance to conduct a search," said School Committee Chairman Dr. Jerome Larkin. "There's no established timeline, no search committee yet," Dr. Larkin said. "The last time we did this was in 2003, I believe," he said.
"Superintendent Rearick has given long service to the district. I can understand his decision to do other things, or nothing at all. He devoted a good portion of his career to the district," Dr. Larkin said.
Mr. Rearick's four-year contract, from July 1, 2015 to June 30, 2019, carries an annual salary of $132,000, with 2% annual increases, along with other benefits such as term life and health insurance.
By the time he retires, Mr. Rearick will have been with the Tiverton School District for 21 years. "I'm entering my 15th year as superintendent," Mr. Rearick said.
"I was principal at Tiverton High School from 1998 to 2003, and prior to that I was an assistant principal at Coventry High School from 1996 to 1998. And I taught U.S. history for 13 years."
What are you going to do with yourself once you retire, he was asked.
"I plan on getting back on the golf course. I am a Patriots season ticket-holder. Once I retire, I will be able to attend the Sunday and Monday night games. I plan on traveling with my wife. We want to go to Europe and Hawaii."
He was asked if he had thoughts about another career.
"When I retire, I will have spent 36 years in education.  I don't have anything specific that I plan on doing. I will be taking some time off to figure it out," he said. 
Mr. Rearick is married (his wife Paula is a guidance counselor at Middletown High School), and he has two children, a son Tim who works at Raytheon and a daughter Abigail who is a sophomore at the University of Rhode island majoring in Chinese and political science.
Of what was he most proud, in terms of his service to Tiverton, Mr. Rearick was asked, and he listed eight achievements:
"1. Receiving voter support for nearly $50 million for improvements to the schools, including renovations to the high school (new science labs, guidance offices and athletic fields), and building three new elementary schools. Both these projects came in on time and under budget;
2. Being a strong advocate for the students and their parents;
3. Improving academic rigor for all students;
4. Introducing All-Day K;
5. Ft. Barton being named a Blue Ribbon School;
6. The introduction and expansion of STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and math) courses at the middle school and high school;
7. Improved graduation rate from 83% to 90%;
7. Updating technology at every grade level; and
8. Producing fiscally responsible budgets."
What's your biggest hope for Tiverton schools?
"To continue their efforts to improve academic rigor for all students, as well as maintaining multiple pathways for students to succeed," he said.