WABASH COUNTY, IN- Manchester Community Schools superintendent Tony Cassel resigned from his position and a search is already underway for a new superintendent.
MCS Board President Mike Hensley read a prepared statement from the Board:
“Manchester Community Schools expects its educators and administration to hold a high level of professionalism in their roles as administration, staff, whatever you do here…
“Recently our superintendent Tony Cassel made a comment that does not fully align with those expectations,” the statement said. “Mr. Cassel acknowledged the situation, immediately with regret, and accepted the school board’s initial disciplinary recommendation prior to investigation. After thoughtful reflection, Mr. Cassel has chosen to go beyond the recommendation and stepped down from his role as superintendent, believing this decision is in the best interest for the school corporation’s continued success.
“The Board has already begun the search for a new superintendent,” Hensley continued. “Dr. Jeff Stevens, who has done this before, will step in as interim superintendent, as well as financial manager, as we look to fill the role of superintendent.”
Stevens explained what comes next.
“The process for finding a replacement – last time we did this, we did a university search, which was basically university, college professors that assisted us,” Stevens said. “ISBA has a search committee and also a firm called Administrative Assistance. That is the firm that brought me here 3 ½ years ago. I’m not longer associated with them, but they do a background investigation search for superintendents.
“The contract is before you, (talking to the Board)…they are saying about 90 days from start to finish. They will start tomorrow, and would hopefully have somebody here mid-July.
“The timing isn’t so bad for a superintendent search,” he continued. “We probably won’t have someone on July 1, but we should have someone here by the beginning of school.”