School Dept. says goodbye to Kostan

LYNN-School may have been canceled Tuesday for students and teachers, but friends and colleagues of Superintendent Nicholas Kostan braved the icy conditions and gridlock traffic to formally say goodbye to the retiring school head at a reception in the school administration building.Remembered as a man of character who always put the interest of the students first, Kostan has accumulated a lot of supporters in his 38 years in the department – the last seven spent as superintendent.Many of those familiar faces gathered in the administration’s conference room Tuesday, mingling over refreshments and congratulating Kostan on a long career.”It is very sad to see Nick go, I had hoped he would outlast me, but unfortunately, here we are,” said Kostan’s replacement Superintendent Catherine Latham.The event was organized by the two women who have worked with Kostan the most over his seven years as superintendent: his secretaries Margaret Hines and Patricia Bucko, who will stay on and continue working with Latham when she officially takes over Jan. 9.As a retirement gift from the faculty and administrative staff, Kostan received a chair and lamp with the Lynn Public Schools emblem and a gift certificate membership to Gannon Golf Course. State Rep. Steven Walsh also stopped by to deliver a letter of commendation from the House of Representatives.”I have mixed emotions, I am going to miss it. I am going to miss the people,” Kostan said. “But I am looking forward to it, too. I am planning to take a trip to Florida after the first of the year, so it will be good to relax a little bit.”Kostan took over a department and School Committee plagued by infighting in 2002 and turned the system around, steadily improving academics and MCAS scores while bringing the staff and School Committee together with a steady hand.Mayor Edward J. Clancy Jr. reminisced about Kostan’s success, and gave the man he hand-picked for the job in 2001 high praise.”He is the best,” he said. “No matter how wonderful a superintendent Cathie Latham turns out to be, she has very big shoes to fill – and that is nothing against her, anyone would.”School Committee member and former Principal Vincent Spirito lamented on over 40 years of friendship with Kostan, and echoed a familiar statement when discussing his friend – he cared most about the students.”Nick is a great guy, I have known him 40 years. He is a high character guy who has done a tremendous amount for the system,” he said. “I can’t say enough about Nick.Every decision that he made was in the best interest for the students, he will be sorely missed.”Deputy Superintendent Jaye Warry agreed.”Nick was just a fabulous guy to work for, and he always had the kids in his best interest,” she said. “It really tortured him to have to make a tough decision that would affect the kids, and at the same time I loved to watch him when good things would happen. Especially at the high schools, those were really his babies.”We are in good hands with Dr. Latham and I look forward to working with her, but Nick is going to be missed.”Kostan will stay on until Dec. 31 when he takes his last week of vacation. School resumes for students Jan 5., and Latham will officially take over as superintendent Jan. 9.