Published: September 30, 2008 04:39 pm      

BREAKING NEWS: Dalton schools superintendent Porter to retire, effective next year

New superintendent to begin in January

Dalton Public Schools superintendent Orval Porter submitted his retirement at a called school board meeting on Tuesday, effective next year. A new superintendent, Jim Hawkins from the Killeen, Texas, school district, will begin in January. Porter will stay on as "superintendent emeritus" until June 30, 2009.

"Our strategic plan would take 10 more hard years, and I'm not willing to work that long," Porter said. "I want to spend time with my grandchildren. I can never tell the board how grateful I am for the opportunity they've given me to serve the community."

Porter has been with Dalton Public Schools since July 2003. He served the Clarkesville school district in northeast Georgia before then. This year is his 29th in public education.

"I tried to talk him out of it," said board chairman Steve Williams, "but I guess I'm not that good of an advocate. Dr. Porter has dedicated his career to seeing students succeed, and provided great leadership. I know he has certainly stimulated my thinking."

The board approved hiring Hawkins as the new superintendent, effective Jan. 5, 2009.

“I’ll be working on the seven-year facility plan, which will take Dr. Hawkins over a year to learn,” Porter said, “and I’ll be working with him on the budget.”