FRANKLIN—Eileen Ritter doesn’t have long to dream of the days when she can spend more time with her family, or head out on an excursion of the Pacific Coast.

Aug. 1, after 33 years with the Franklin City Public School system, the 58-year-old Finance Director will retire.

&uot;I like what I do,&uot; she said. &uot;I still get a kick out making something balance—it’s never boring.&uot;

Ritter started her career with the school system in 1975 as a teacher’s aide at the old upper elementary school (once the high school), located where Clay Court is today.

She also worked at S.P. Morton Elementary when it opened.

In 1980, after five years as an assistant, she took a position in the central office as secretary to Allen T. Hopkins, who was director of federal programs.

&uot;That’s where I started doing financial work with the federal programs,&uot; she said. &uot;In 1985, Frances Pittman trained me in payroll, and I became payroll supervisor that year.&uot;

While continuing to work, Ritter completed her bachelor’s degree in organizational management at Saint Paul’s College in Lawrenceville, and took the position of finance director in 1996.

Because of budget cuts in central office staff, according to Ritter, her position won’t be filled, and there will be three on staff in the department.

&uot;I have been asked by the school board to help in the transitioning,&uot; she said, &uot;so I hope to be able to come back after the 1st of September to help the finance department.&uot;

&uot;I’m going to miss the people I work with the most,&uot; she said. &uot;Some of the people I have met and learned from have been amazing.&uot;

Ritter plans to visit more often with her two sisters who live out-of-state, with her second grandchild due July 29, and with her husband, Jim, who has been retired for five years as a science/health and physical education teacher from Southampton County Public Schools.

Her son, Andy, and daughter-in-law, Amanda, also work at the central office in different departments.