Ex-chair rarely makes school board meetings

Reilinger’s high absenteeism this year - she missed 10 out of 16 official meetings - contrasted sharply with her previous 15 years on the committee, including 11 years as chairwoman when she kept tight control over committee business. She hardly missed a meeting and often shared in the spotlight of success with Thomas Payzant, former superintendent.

Yesterday, Reilinger said a busy work schedule, which frequently has her flying around the country, prompted her decision to leave the committee and caused her to miss many meetings this year. She said that when she announced last year that she was stepping down as chairwoman, it was her intention not to seek reappointment.

“The business I started a couple of years ago demands more time,’’ Reilinger said of her consulting work with nonprofits.

Her impending departure, however, took many School Committee observers by surprise yesterday, while others said it ended months of speculation that began when she gave up her chairman ship.

The other committee member whose term expires this year is five-year veteran Helen Dájer, who said yesterday she has not decided if she will seek another term.

In an interview yesterday, Mayor Thomas M. Menino said he was “somewhat saddened’’ by Reilinger’s decision.

“She’s done a great job through the years,’’ said Menino, who has often asked residents to judge his tenure on his ability to improve the city’s schools. “She always kept everything on an even keel. Liz was the person who brought everyone to a point of discussion and was always the point of reason.’’

In a statement, Superintendent Carol R. Johnson said, “Liz truly is a role model for city school board members throughout the country, smart, professional, and fiercely committed to meeting the needs of families.’’

During her chairmanship, the longest in the system’s history, Reilinger occasionally clashed with administrators, teachers, and community groups. Two years ago, some city councilors said she had a micromanaging style that forced an initial replacement for Payzant, Manuel Rivera, to reconsider his decision to accept the position in the midst of contract negotiations.

The Rev. Gregory Groover, who took over as chairman of the seven-member committee this year, said the board would “definitely miss [Reilinger’s] incredible wealth of wisdom.’’

“You may not always agree with her on particular issues and policies,’’ Groover said, “But, at the end of the day, she had a single purpose in mind, and that was advancing the system. For her, it was always about the children.’’

Reilinger, who once ran a homeless shelter and education program for single mothers, said it would feel strange, come January, to no longer be part of the committee, and called her absences a period of weaning.

“It was a very big part of my life,’’ said Reilinger, adding that she spent 20 to 30 hours a week working on school business while she was chairwoman. “It’s great to see others step up to the plate.’’