WELLS - Wells Central School District Superintendent Gavin Murdoch is retiring from his position.
Although he was scheduled to retire by July 20, he left the position late last week, using accrued time.
John Zeis will serve as the school's administration management consultant until he can officially become the interim superintendent July 20, district officials said.
The school district is not allowed to have two superintendents contracted at the same time.
Zeis said Thursday that Murdoch left for "retirement purposes."
Murdoch started the job as superintendent in October 2008.
He served as the Amsterdam High School principal from 2003 to 2008. Before that, he was assistant principal for five years and was a social studies teacher there from 1985 to 1997.
Murdoch replaced former Superintendent Paul Williamsen, who left the district in June 2008 to take the superintendent job in the Mayfield Central School District.
Zeis said he most likely will be the interim superintendent until January 2011, unless the district finds a replacement before then.
Although he has been a superintendent and involved with school districts for more than 32 years, Zeis said he has no interest in becoming the Wells district's permanent superintendent.
The Wells resident retired in 2000 from his superintendent position from Hudson Falls.
He started his education career as a teacher for the Wells school district in 1962.
This will also be his third time as interim superintendent in the school district.
He also served in the post in 2004 and 2008.
Murdoch's position came with a $95,000 yearly salary.
His contract was to run from Oct. 14, 2008, to Oct. 13, 2011.
He also served as the district's head principal, an agreement the district has had for years.