New Haven superintendent retires after 2 decades

NEW HAVEN, Conn. (WTNH) -- A change at the head of the New Haven School system as the superintendent has announced he is retiring. Dr. Reginald Mayo says it's his time to move on.

He was very specific on what he wants his administration to be remembered for and even touched on why he's leaving now, and what he hopes the future is at the school district.

"It has just been one happy trip for me for 46 years," said Mayo.

For more than two decades, Superintendent Dr. Reginald Mayo has made this office home.

He wants to be remembered for improving the Magnet School program and early childhood education with full day kindergarten and expanded pre-schools.

"When I became Superintendent people were running from the New Haven School district and now people are running to get into the New Haven public school system," said Mayo.

Along with Mayor John DeStefano the city oversaw the construction of 37 new schools.

"He came over here and said, 'How would you like for me to rebuild your schools?' 'Hey, sounds good to me can I take credit for some of it,' Mayo said laughing. "There's enough credit to go around if we get it done."

And it's no secret he is a very close friend of Mayor Destefano. Last month the Mayor announced he would not run for another term so did that have any weight on Mayo's decision to leave?

"I already decided to leave at the end of his contract so it just happen to coincide. He will be here 6 months after I'm gone so I'll leave before him," said Mayo.

He says he won't leave with any regrets, but he says there's more work to do in getting parents engaged and improving academic achievement.

"We're making gains and we're growing at a rate twice the rate the state is growing at, but we're behind in terms of the state average and we need to be at that state average," said Mayo.

But he says they've laid the groundwork to get there.

"We're going to be a great school district, I'm guaranteeing that. We're going to be the best urban school district in this country in a few years," said Mayo.