Published: June 28, 2009 12:50 am      

ROY-HART: Bona to retire after 40 years in education

MIDDLEPORT — During his time as Royalton-Hartland superintendent, Paul Bona may not have always gotten along with the adults. But it was the kids who mattered to him the most.

“I’ve always stayed focused on the reason for my existence,” Bona said. “And that’s the children.”

After 39 years in the field of education as a teacher, administrator and superintendent, Bona will retire Tuesday. The day has been coming, since Bona announced almost a year ago he would retire at the conclusion of the 2008-09 school year. The original plan was to retire last year, but Bona stayed on for another year.

Bona’s career began as a accounting and business teacher in the Auburn Enlarged City School District, where he stayed for about 12 years. During that time, he was also teaching micro and macro economic theory at Auburn Community College. Later, Bona served a year of interning as assistant superintendent for finance at the Auburn district. He then went on to become the director of occupational education at Cayuga-Onondaga Board of Cooperative Services and then eventually assistant superintendent at the Poland Central School District in Poland, N.Y. Bona rose to deputy superintendent at Poland afterwards, later becoming superintendent of schools at Elizabethtown-Lewis School District for 11 years. Finally, he landed in Roy-Hart as superintendent.

When Bona came to Roy-Hart, beginning Feb. 17, 1998, there was a major concern with the district’s finances. Before his arrival, Roy-Hart had seen some hard times, including a number of contingency budgets, which is what takes place when voters shoot down a proposed budget.

“There was a perceived lack of confidence in the financial management of the district,” Bona said. “The community has been supportive, we’ve only had one contingent budget in the last 11 years.”

Roy-Hart Board of Education President Patricia Riegle said the district was appreciative of Bona and his 11 years of service. Bona had a good rapport with staff, faculty and was very open with the school board.

“He was straight and open with us, gave us good and bad news, we knew where he stood,” Riegle said. “It’s very unusual for someone to stay in this position as long as he has.”

Board member William Howell echoed Riegle’s comment, saying Bona helped steer Roy-Hart through some tough financial storms. Serving on the board for five years, Howell said he has seen the district improve its financial health under Bona and he added that the district’s finances should keep getting better.

“Financially, we’re in good condition,” Howell said. “And that’ll continue through the people he’s trained. Over the course of his time here, the district has turned around and people are working together.”

Board member-elect Sue Hughes agreed with Howell. Prior to being elected this spring, Hughes served on the Board of Education for four years.

“To stabilize the district financially, especially in this economy, is a huge accomplishment,” Hughes said.

Recently, a state audit said Roy-Hart was in excellent condition. The district has also faced several years of external auditing that found the district has maintained its finances well.

Roy-Hart has also seen a number of infrastructure improvements while Bona has served as superintendent. Among them, a sports complex behind the Middleport district campus, removal of the arsenic-tainted soil, new fields at the elementary school and the renovating of all three schools in the district. Roy-Hart residents passed an $8.3 million capital project in January 2008 that will provide maintenance and repairs to all three schools in the district and provide an addition that will house an Orleans/Niagara BOCES program in the elementary school. The project included upgrades to the high school science and art rooms, new generators and regular maintenance items to Roy-Hart Elementary, Middle and High schools.

But it’s not just the finances or structural improvements, but the accomplishments of the student body, Bona says he has enjoyed seeing in the past 11 years. The district has a graduation rate of 85 percent, and improving state test scores in math and English language arts that continue to rise.

“Four years ago, I was invited down to New York City,” Bona said. “We were recognized as one of the few high-achieving, gap-closing schools, at all levels — elementary, middle and high school. I believe Roy-Hart has succeeded over the last decade because of the faculty and staff here, with the support of the board and the community. It is a total team effort that has gained recognition for the district.”

But for Bona, retirement doesn’t mean he won’t stay busy. He plans to spend time with the family, his wife, Mary, and children Christina, Maria and Christopher. And there’s always the family business, CMC Auto Sales on West Avenue.

While he hasn’t always made the popular decisions, Bona said he feels he has done so in the interest of the students. Bona’s “reason for existence,” as he calls it, was his main motivation throughout his career.

“I see and hear of people who don’t like their job and I wonder what that feels like,” Bona said.

Contact reporter Joe Olenickat 439-9222, ext. 6241.