Having ironed out what he believes is a four-year plan to establish lasting solvency for the district, and taking into account a number of personal factors, Dr. James Mapes, superintendent of Baldwin Schools, announced his retirement last week.

In a letter sent to district staff on Feb. 1, Mapes wrote, “After 43 years as an educator, the last 28 as superintendent, I have decided to close this chapter at the end of the school year.”

Mapes described how much he admired district employees’ dedication to Baldwin’s students, and “the effective way you make the machinery of education run.” He said he was confident that the district was in capable hands and that both the district and the community would continue their “tradition of excellence.”

According to Cristina Schmohl, who handles media relations for the district, the school board was still reacting to the news of Mapes’s retirement last week. She said that trustees had not yet begun to discuss the search for his replacement, but indicated that the board was likely to address the topic at its Feb. 13 meeting, at 8 p.m. at Baldwin Senior High School.