Wicomico Superintendent of Schools John Fredericksen has announced he will not seek to renew his four-year contract when it ends next June.
The Daily Times of Salisbury reports Fredericksen announced his decision at a school board meeting Tuesday.
Ronald Willey, president of the Wicomico Board of Education, says the board has known about Fredericksen's decision for several months but the superintendent wanted to announce his departure before the new school year. The superintendent, who is 64 years old, says he plans to retire to be closer to his grandchildren.
Fredericksen began serving as Wicomico County's top educator on July 1, 2008, and received a second four-year contract in 2012. His tenure is among the longest in the state of Maryland.