By JENNIFER MOLK
For The Outpost

Jack Copps announced Monday this will be his final year as superintendent of Billings School District 2. His last day will be June 30, 2010.

“It was extremely difficult,” said the 72-year-old of his decision to leave. “If I were younger I would probably commit myself to multiple years. It’s time.”

Mr. Copps made his announcement to the board of trustees at Monday night’s weekly school board meeting at Lincoln Center.

“I will not accept nor request another contract,” he stated. He then gave a lengthy and heartfelt speech about his employment with the district.

School Board chairman Malcolm Goodrich responded by speaking on behalf of the entire board, “We’re very sorry to hear that,” he said.

Mr. Copps said he’d been thinking long and hard of the decision to leave the school system since as early as September.

“I’ve been thinking about it and worrying about it and trying to make up mind of when was the best time to hand over that baton to someone else,” he said. “I really do worry about making sure that the district is in good hands. The district has what I consider to be really good employees. It’s also equally important that the chief officer be somebody who enjoys the business and can develop really strong relationships with the people who work here as well as the community.”

Superintendent Copps has overseen Billings’ 31 schools, including 22 elementary schools, four middle schools, three high schools and the Career Center since March 2006, with a collective enrollment of more than 15,500 students.

“Being superintendent of schools in Billings is not a day job,” Mr. Copps admitted. “A lot of what I have to do in the district is very challenging and some of them are very difficult decisions that have to be made. But on the other side there are lots and lots of opportunities to be a cheerleader. I think I have become more attached to this community than I ever could have imagined.”

The South Dakota native began his career in education in Montana 49 years ago on the Fort Peck Reservation where he began teaching and eventually became principal. From there he was principal in Lewistown and Helena, before becoming assistant superintendent and then superintendent there.

He spent eight years as state deputy superintendent when he then became executive director for Montana Quality Education Coalition. Then it was on to Billings.

“This was a highlight for me,” he said. “I can’t think of anyplace I’d rather be right now.”

Many in the district agree Copps has gone above and beyond the call of duty. “Jack Copps is first and foremost a ‘gentle man’ who was truly a gift to Billings Public Schools,” said Kathy Olson, executive director of Elementary Education. “He deeply cares mostly about the children not only in Billings but in the entire state of Montana and has advocated tirelessly on their behalf. He symbolizes the word ‘educational leader.’”

Mr. Copps told The Billings Outpost last year, “One of the most important responsibilities I assigned myself when I came here was to try to improve the relationship with the community. And I try to work on that every single day. And that’s a long road.

“In the end we need to make it clear to the community that they own the schools, they make the final decisions and our job is to be an advocate for kids.”

It is those kids that Mr. Copps is most focused on even now, as he prepares to move on. “My new job is to make sure the transition is a smooth one,” he said. “My job is to help the board do everything to find the best possible person.”

Mr. Copps’ departure is felt in the district already. “His leaving will leave a tremendous void in our district in terms of leadership, direction and ‘with-it-ness,’” Ms. Olson added. “His talents and skills are tremendous. He understands school finance as well as anyone I have ever known. If Jack leaves education altogether, a loss of educational leadership will be felt statewide.”

In the meantime, Mr. Copps looks forward to more time with family, starting with his wife of 27 years, Penny. “My wife and I have always had an agreement that Monday through Thursday I work until eight or nine o’clock at night. But Friday night at six o’clock, that’s the start of my weekend. And my wife and I try to organize the weekend as we both want it. So we spend the weekends together. That’s necessary.”

Mr. and Mrs. Copps will keep their home here in Billings. “In the short run we’re going to touch base with family a little bit more often,” he said. “We have family in Alaska, Helena and Bend, Oregon.”

To his successor, he hoped he or she would “give it your all. The kids in this community deserve our very best, and make sure you continue to deliver that.”

And he added with a laugh, “A good superintendent better have a good sense of humor.”

As he prepares for his exit, Mr. Copps said he hopes he’s remembered for one thing. “It’s pretty simple – that I did the right thing for children,” he said.