In just a few more days, Pleasant Valley School District’s business manager will be starting a new phase - retirement.

Michael Simonetta’s retirement will be effective June 30.

In reference to the district being his last business manager appointment, Simonetta said, “I mean this sincerely, I don’t think I could have ended it in a better spot, a better situation, a better team, a better group. This district is on its way up, and if I wasn’t so old, I would want to stay longer.”

Simonetta joined the school district three years ago, leaving a position in the Easton Area School District as a chief operating officer.

School board President Susan Kresge presented Simonetta with a Pleasant Valley bear blanket as a thank you and parting gift. She had thanked him in January for his work for the district when he announced his retirement.

On Thursday, she added, “We wish you much happiness and enjoy your next journey in your life.”

“I would like to recognize and personally thank Mike for all his service,” said Vice President Michael Galler. “Congratulations on everything that you’ve done and thank you. Enjoy the next stage. It’s been a pleasure serving with you.”

“It’s been a pleasure for me as well,” Simonetta said.

He is going to be replaced by Tammy Smale, who currently serves as the assistant business manager. She has been with the school district for the last four years, and said she is excited about becoming the business manager.

“I’ve learned a lot from him. He has a vast amount of knowledge, and he has shared how to finance our high school project. That was interesting to learn that,” said Smale. “I’m going to miss him dearly, but I am definitely prepared to move on to do the position.”

“You’re going to be very much missed,” said Superintendent James Konrad. “You leave us in some great hands, because Tammy is a rock star, and I can’t wait to see all of the great things that are going to be happening in our future. But I just want to thank you for all of your expertise, your knowledge, support, and really getting us into a good place where our district is fiscally solvent. We’re a good steward of taxpayers’ dollars, and we have an incredible high school renovation project that we’re going to be able to afford and have greater opportunities for our high school students. So thank you for that and thank you for your dedication to Pleasant Valley.”