Seattle Public Schools Superintendent Raj Manhas has announced he will step down next summer as the district's leader, in part because he feels his work is done.

Meanwhile, the merger of Viewlands and Broadview-Thomson will go forward.

At a press conference last month, Manhas said his decision was personal.

"I believe I have fulfilled my responsibilities as superintendent and have accomplished much during my tenure..." he said. "The work I intended to do has been done."

Manhas said the decision was not a result of being forced out.

"I am feeling it is time for me to move on," he said. "For my family and for myself... I want to move on."

The district chief is in the final year of his three-year contract. Rumors surfaced last week that former Mayor Norm Rice is being backed by Mayor Greg Nickels to succeed Manhas.

The superintendent cited improved scores on this year's Washington Assessment of Student Learning exam and an anticipated district reserve of more than $20 million as examples of his accomplishments as superintendent. He also said the cost savings associated from closing of seven school buildings and switching Franklin and Ballard high schools from yellow bus service to Metro bus service will help the district address its multi million dollar budget deficit.

The announcement came after a contentious, now abandoned, second round of school closures and days after a raucous School Board meeting where Manhas and board members endured hours of verbal, sometimes racially charged criticism from community members.

At the end of the nearly six hour-long meeting, the board voted to reject the superintendent's proposal to close three elementary schools. In July, the School Board voted to close Viewlands Elementary and seven other school buildings during phase one of the consolidation process.

Five School Board members have recently confirmed their support of the phase one vote that includes a proposal to merge Viewlands with nearby Broadview-Thomson.

Despite having to shut down for good next fall, the atmosphere at Viewlands is upbeat, said Kathy Overhus, president of the Viewlands Parent Teacher Association.

"We have this 'let's move forward' attitude," said Overhus. The merger gives the students something to look forward to, she said. The School Board is scheduled to finalize the move next week.

Overhus said many at Viewlands were "blind-sided" by the superintendent's announcement to leave the district.

"He is a really good man and that he's made it this long is really a testament to him," she said. "We really have respect for him."

But Viewlands parent Lynn Miller said Manhas' departure is a good thing.

"He was really miscast in his role," she said. "Education is not his training and he didn't seem to understand, so he was forced to do what he knows - be an impartial administrator making decisions based on the bottom line. No one wants their kids treated like that."

Manhas, whose background is in banking and engineering - not education - joined the district in October 2001 as chief operating officer and was appointed interim superintendent in June 2003 after Joseph Olchefske resigned. Later that year, after a wide scale search came up empty, Manhas was given the permanent position.

Ed James, principal at North Beach Elementary, said "the handwriting was on the wall" for Manhas' resignation.

"He's been under so much pressure," said James, a 28+-year veteran of Seattle Schools. "When you have so much stress in your life it begins to effect your family life as well."

James, who will retire from the district next year, said the principal's core has grown stronger than ever under Manhas' leadership, and the district will have a very difficult time filling his position.

"I'm sad and I'm worried about the future of Seattle Schools," said James. "Who's going to want to work with a board that says one thing and doesn't follow through and responds to pressure? The board doesn't have the intestinal fortitude to follow through on tasks."

After Manhas announced his impending resignation, School Board Vice President Cheryl Chow was visibly upset by the news.

"My heart was ripped out," said Chow. "I think it's been on his mind for a while. I wouldn't say he's being forced out. Raj has been a great leader. He's worked hard but there is only so much one person can do."

Board members Michael DeBell and Chow said the superintendent's decision to leave would likely prolong further action regarding school consolidation.

"The board has to get their act together," said Chow. "I think we've hit a low that I've never seen before."

"The consolidation process is very difficult and requires that the school board and the superintendent work together as a team," said DeBell. DeBell called Manhas a "great leader" and said many of the district's challenges have been well orchestrated by the superintendent.

"I'm sad to see him go," he said.

Sherry Carr, president of the Seattle Council of Parent Teacher and Student Associations, said she was "very disappointed" to hear of Manhas' decision to step down, but that recent events probably had an effect on his resignation.

"It would be hard to look at what happened (Oct. 18 School Board meeting) and not consider that one of the last straws," said Carr. "But I'm sure that was not the only thing."

Though the council supports the district's efforts to close schools, Carr said the School Board needs to regain "functional and operational control" before the consolidation process can continue.

By announcing his resignation now, Manhas said the district would have more time to seek an appropriate replacement.

"I have enjoyed every moment in this school system," Manhas said. "It's that passion for public education that sustains you. The rest of the stuff is secondary, I believe."

Another district employee, director of public affairs Peter Daniels, left Seattle Schools last week after announcing his resignation the week prior. Daniels said recent events surrounding school board meetings or school closures did not effect his decision to leave the district.

Rebekah Schilperoort can be reached at rebekahs@ballardnewstribune.com or 783.1244.