Lynn English principal to stay until 2010

LYNN – Six months ago Lynn English High School Principal Andrew Fila thought he was ready to bring his nine-year tenure at the school to an end, but with just a few months left in the school year and no movement in the effort to find his replacement, Fila says he is putting his plans on hold for another year.”Yes I am,” Fila, 67, told the Item Monday when asked if he would return for another year. “It will be the same thing as this year. My plans are to fulfill my contract, which expires Aug. 31, 2010.”Fila had said in late September 2008 that he would not renew his contract this August, effectively forecasting the end of an over three-decades long career in the Lynn Public School system.But as the school year continued, Fila began to think about sticking around a little bit longer, and with the recent success of the school’s boys basketball team along with academic accomplishments like being named one of the nation’s best high schools by U.S. News and World Report, Fila had plenty of reasons to stay on the job.A big part of his decision can also be attributed to the School Committee and former Superintendent Nicholas Kostan, who Fila says dragged their feet in posting the job for his replacement despite his wishes to work with that person on an interim level in order to prepare them to take over in his absence.”I thought I was ready to leave and if Nick got the School Committee to post the position in September or October I probably would have kept to my decision,” he said. “But I am glad to be here for another year and I am looking forward to having an aggressive summer in keeping our staff here and in tact.”Fila said he would once again ask that Superintendent Catherine Latham, who took over for Kostan when he retired Jan. 1, and the School Committee post the job early in the school year so that he can work with his replacement leading up to his 2010 exit.A former football standout at English, Fila took over as principal in 2000 after more than three decades in the school system, much of which was spent as vice principal, and later principal of Eastern Junior High School, now Marshall Middle School.Fila began his career in 1965 as a substitute teacher and began teaching full time two years later. His first move into administration came in 1981 when he was appointed vice principal of Eastern.He is largely credited with turning English around upon his arrival, using his skills as a disciplinarian to set the student population straight and help clean up the school’s surrounding neighborhood.Still exerting more energy at 67 than most of the teenagers walking the halls of his school, Fila described himself as excited about his decision to stay through 2010 and said he planned on addressing his staff – who he had already informed of his decision via email – in person on Monday.”To tell the truth I am kind of excited about the decision, I am looking forward to working another year. “I said before that I had 67 (years) down and 67 to go, well now I have 67 1/2 down and 67 1/2 to go.”Careful not to use the term “retirement” when describing his decision to leave, and later stay at English, Fila said Monday that his only other option was to run for public office. While he did not specify which office he had in mind, the principal said that move may not be the best considering his hatred for losing.”It was either come back or run for office, and I might lose if I do that. I hate to lose,” he said. “That said, I am really happy for our basketball team (who lost the Division 1 state tournament championship in Worcester Saturday). They did an incredible job.”Superintendent Catherine Latham said Monday that she had not heard from Fila yet, but that she would welcome his decision to stay.