Rivera Bows Out; Boston to Open New Hunt

District’s chosen chief instead to take job advising N.Y. governor.

Boston leaders heaved a sigh of relief four months ago when they picked a new schools chief, ending one of the nation’s thorniest superintendent searches. But last week, that relief evaporated in a cloud of anger and frustration as their chosen man backed out of the deal.

The news that Manuel J. Rivera, the nationally lauded superintendent of the 34,000-student Rochester, N.Y., schools, will not take the helm in Boston in July as planned left city and school leaders reeling. It further delays a transition that is already a year behind schedule, and adds yet another difficult turn to a search that nearly fell apart once already. ( "Schools Chief Search Off Schedule in Boston," July 26, 2006 and "Rochester, N.Y., Schools Chief Picked for Top Job in Boston," Oct. 4, 2006.)

“We are surprised and very disappointed to get this news at this late stage in the process,” said the Boston schools...