School district's business manager 'calls it a day'

When Alan Schutz, longtime business manager for Plainville Community Schools, started working locally in the 1980s, he remembered earlier versions of computers and software that replaced old-fashioned adding machines, calculators and pencils.

Now, nearly 20 years later, computers are key to helping schools do financial tabulations and reports. Schutz said he would be hesitant to predict what the future will hold for computers. "In all, they make work much easier," he said, adding this is just the beginning for wireless and hand-held technologies.

Schutz, who was hired 19 years ago by then-Superintendent of Schools Jim Ritchie, has announced his intention to retire from his post, probably sometime this month. A resident of Plantsville, he said he has enjoyed his tenure as business manager and has offered to help whomever is hired to succeed him have an easy transition. If the school board's selection process goes into January, Schutz said he is willing to help in the situation. However, he said he can see the proverbial light at the end of the tunnel and is looking forward to taking what he called a "deserved break" from working daily for more than 30 years.

He said he will especially miss the people who work in the schools and called Plainville "a great little town" whose residents really care about the town. Right now, Schutz, 55, is not sure if he will remain retired, do some traveling. He said he is interested in recreational sailing, something he has liked from his younger days. He said he enjoys the outdoors, particularly hiking.

Schutz has seen his share of changes in the local schools, with the schools part of the budget going from the $10 million range to the current schools budget of $30 million. For the most part, the yearly percentage increases for the district have been about 4 percent, keeping line with inflation. He said the school board and Town Council really examines the budget line by line, being very careful and deliberate.

Schutz has a bachelor of science degree in psychology from the University of Connecticut. He received a master's degree in school administration from the University of Hartford. He and his wife, Diane, have two grown daughters.

Superintendent of Schools Kathleen Binkowski and Board of Education Chairwoman Becky Tyrrell said they have enjoyed working with Schutz. "He is a dedicated and hard-working business manager," Binkowski said at a recent meeting. Tyrrell said she will miss his expertise.

Schutz said he hopes the day will come when the school administration offices will be located at the same site at the 1920s portion of Linden Street School. For many years, the school district offices were located at Plainville High School, but since construction and renovation are under way at PHS, the school offices were split, some located at old Linden Street School, with others, including Binkowski and Schutz's offices, at the lower level of Plainville Municipal Center. Currently, he shares the business office, but has a "cubicle area," complete with soundproof partitions. "It's a little cramped," he said, but said he understood the need to share office space at the Municipal Center. By not having his offices at PHS, he particularly misses not having day-to-day contact with students, he said.