NORTH ANDOVER — There were high expectations when James Marini came on board as interim superintendent two years ago. Some people claimed the schools needed nothing short of a magician to fix the problems plaguing North Andover.
Space issues, retiring administrators, budget woes and a general negative feeling left from a previous administration were just a few issues the retired Winchester schools chief was faced with.
Marini had no magic wand in his office, but officials say he has worked miracles in his short term as interim superintendent, helping the school system to achieve a 180-degree turnaround.
"If I could I would clone Dr. Marini so he'd be here forever ... he's such an amazing person," School Committee member Laurie Burzlaff said. "He brought unity back. He brought people together to solve problems."
As the retired superintendent bid farewell to the district Tuesday afternoon, school officials described him as the "Mr. Fix It" of North Andover schools. Now Marini is heading to the Newton school system to serve as an interim for a year while that district looks for its own permanent school chief.
Former Nashua, N.H., Superintendent Christopher Hottel is taking over starting this week and has extensive experience with tight budgets, union contracts and technology — all areas North Andover will have to focus in on in the coming year.
School Committee member Chris Nobile said it will be a great transition of leadership, moving from Marini's "communicator" role to Hottel's reputation as a "technician."
"Jim got everyone at the table working together," he said. "Now we need a manager with a different type of expertise, someone who will work with the limited resources and pressures from the economy."
Last week, during an interview with The Eagle-Tribune, Marini brushed off suggestions that he single-handedly solved any of the district's problems. He instead gave all the credit to parents, School Committee members, teachers, principals, town officials — everyone but himself.
"There was a real honest to God desire on the part of everyone to work together," he said. "Everyone had a 'glass is half full' attitude. ... I was in the right place at the right time to help them realize their goals."
"All of what North Andover is now has always been there," Marini said.
Marini said he's enjoyed his tenure here, adding it was actually fun to come to work everyday.
"It's gone by in a heartbeat," he said. "I'm going to miss this place."
There was a feeling of mistrust and tension in the summer of 2006 as the School Committee looked to replace Harry Harutunian, who resigned after officials learned he gave a 29 percent raise to a secretary with whom he was having an affair.
Assistant Superintendent Richard Bergeron filled in as interim for a short period before Daniel O'Connor took the job on for a year. A search committee had still not been able to find a permanent schools chief when they took on Marini, who could only stay a year — two at most — since he is a retired superintendent on a special contract.
"When I first came on, people talked about how much difficulty they had communicating with each other," Marini said. "Now I don't hear that."
Besides improving communication between the school and town departments, Marini has had a full plate.
In the past two years, he has overseen a redistricting plan for the elementary schools, a new preschool and new modular classrooms for the Kittredge School. He brought on Assistant Superintendent Kevin Hutchinson, who has created a foundation of common standards in curriculum.
"It doesn't matter which school you go to, or what class you're in," Marini said. "Hutch has given us that. A North Andover education is a North Andover education for everyone. We didn't have that before."
He had to guide several new School Committee members through the learning process. Only one current member, Christine Allen, was on the committee when Marini first came on two years ago.
More importantly, officials said, Marini would meet with Town Manager Mark Rees every Monday to compare notes and offer help.
That, in turn, sparked a greater level of communication among the School Committee, Board of Selectmen and Finance Committee.
"We solved the problems of the world every Monday," Marini said, laughing.
Allen said he was a great mentor.
"He really showed me how to be a good School Committee member," she said. "After working with him, now I know what I should be expecting, now I know how it should be."
His optimism was contagious, she said.
"It was always, 'This place is great. How can we make it better?'" Allen said.
Burzlaff, a Thomson PTO president before she was a School Committee member, said that Marini gave as much time to parents as he did to officials in town.
"As a parent, the first thing you notice is he never made you feel your issue was not important. There was never a brush off. He never closed the door on you," said Burzlaff. "He was an honest, open leader. People trust him."
School leaders said the finale to Marini's term came at May's Town Meeting where a sparse budget passed with little to no dissent — a rarity just a year or two ago.
"We had a consensus budget with the Finance Committee and Board of Selectmen," Nobile said. "It was the crowning illustration of what he did for us."
Marini said Hottel will face a daunting budget, as state aid has dwindled away little by little, and building space issues in the next five years. But he's sure his replacement is up to the task.
Allen said Hottel's biggest challenge will be getting people accustomed to someone new.
"Everyone loved Dr. Marini," she said.
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