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WILKES-BARRE — Longtime Wilkes-Barre Area educator Leo Solomon, for whom a school was named, died Monday.
Solomon’s life was heavily influenced by local education institutions. He graduated from Meyers High School, earned his bachelor’s degree in business administration from Wilkes-University, and got his masters in educational administration at Scranton University. He got his superintendent’s certificate at Lehigh University.
His career at Wilkes-Barre Area began in the late 1950s. He reached the top job as superintendent in 1976 and ended with his retirement for health reasons in 1993. At a January School Board meeting that year he kept the announcement brief, saying the move came “with great difficulty.” The retirement took effect seven months later before the start of a new school year.
The announcement evoked a standing ovation and praise during the meeting.
“Leo, you’re going to be missed,” said veteran board member Mike Rushton.
“If you equate education to athletics, Leo Solomon would be a superstar,” said solicitor Anthony Lupas.
In his final year on the job, Solomon oversaw some big changes, including installation of cameras on some school transportation vehicles and serious cuts in staffing following the largest tax hike in recent history at the time — 23.5 mills. A month after announcing his retirement, the School Board hunted for ways to trim the budget through attrition and administrative restructuring. He retired just at the development and importance of state standardized tests began to emerge.
When the district decided it needed a new kindergarten through grade 8 school, the facility that opened in September of 1997 was named the Leo Solomon Education Complex-Plains Memorial School.
Reach Mark Guydish at 570-991-6112