Superintendent Richard Matkin to retire in January 2015

As chief financial officer for a district that serves more than 55,000 students and about 7,000 employees, Matkin managed an annual budget of about half a billion dollars and implemented four bond referendums, three of which were passed during his tenure.

Board of trustees President Nancy Humphrey said Matkin has led the district through tenuous economic times.

"He has chosen to retire and spend more time with his family. You can't blame [him], but [the board of trustees] is all very sad to see him go because we really appreciate the job he's done," Humphrey said.

Under Matkin's leadership, the district also earned the highest rating of "Superior Achievement" within the Schools Financial Integrity Rating System of Texas, or FIRST, program. As superintendent, Matkin led PISD when it became the largest school district in the state to pass a 13 cent tax ratification election.

With the board of trustees, Matkin oversaw the district's creation of the

Community and Student Engagement Accountability System, an assessment tool that fulfills the requirements of House Bill 5, passed by the Texas Legislature in 2011. Thirty school districts within the Region 10 Education Service Center have adopted this model.

PISD trustees are expected to accept Matkin's resignation in a formal vote at the Oct. 21 school board work session. At the meeting, Humphrey said the board will discuss a timeline regarding the search for a new superintedent as well as begin the process to identify an executive search consultant to help in the process. Trustees will also revisit the profile qualifications for the next superintendent.

"The board will go through this process with the mindset that this is one of the most important decisions we make," Humphrey said. "We take the work very seriously."