JEFFERSONVILLE —
The Greater Clark County Schools Board of Trustees voted 5-2 Tuesday night to not renew Superintendent Dr. Stephen Daeschner’s contract.
Daeschner’s three-year contract will expire at the end of June. His salary of $225,000 plus benefits is the second highest among superintendents in the state.
Board member Kevin Satterly made the motion to remove Daeschner as superintendent with Christina Gilkey, Mark Pavey, Ernie Gilbert and Jerry White voting for the motion. Becka Christensen and Nancy Kraft voted against the motion.
The board was not expected to address Daeschner’s contract until Dec. 20, but at the beginning of Tuesday’s regular meeting, the board voted along the same lines to add contract renewal to the agenda.
During public comment at the beginning of the meeting, 27 principals, teachers and parents addressed the board. All spoke in favor of keeping Daeschner.
Maple Elementary Principal Lauraetta Starks was among the strongest voices in favor of keeping Daeschner even though he recently recommended closing her school due to budget concerns. She said she would have been there even if the school had closed.
“He left not one stone unturned when he went looking for money, and Maple happened to be under one of those stones,” she said.
Starks said she has worked under four superintendents, and Daeschner is the only one who was an “instructional leader.”
“Superintendents of this caliber are hard to find,” she said.
Principals talked about how Daeschner worked more closely with them than any previous superintendent, and teachers said he had inspired them to achieve more academically.
“We will not find another leader like Dr. Stephen Daeschner,” said Northaven Elementary School Principal Karen Wesely, who broke down crying during her speech.
“When I say my son goes to Jeff High, I’m proud of it. I couldn’t say that for 12 years,” said Jennifer Coward, a mother of three Greater Clark students.
Some 200 people attended the meeting. More than half those in attendance cheered loudly after each speech. One man claimed that all the speeches had been scripted, and another thanked the school board members for making the “right decision.”
Those in favor of keeping Daeschner were clearly the vocal majority with many confronting the board members as they left the room. Some began chanting, “vote them out.”
After the meeting, Satterly refused to answer questions from the media. Many other board members quickly exited the room without commenting.
Gilbert said he had planned to vote to keep Daeschner but changed his mind because he was “disappointed by the circus-like atmosphere.”
“I don’t like the way this has come down,” he said.
When asked if he blamed the superintendent for that atmosphere, he said he does not blame anyone.
White said after the meeting that the board has “fundamental differences” with Daeschner. He said he could not comment further about those differences because it is a personnel issue.
Gilkey said during the meeting that there will be another phase of negotiations involving keeping Daeschner in another role.
Daeschner said after the meeting that he had expected the board would renew his contract. When asked if he would still consider staying at Greater Clark in another capacity, he said, “I don’t know. We’re still talking.”
The board also voted to approve nearly $1.2 million in cuts and $3.3 million in projected “revenue injections” proposed by the administration. However, they voted against closing any pools, which was part of the proposal. Gilbert said the cuts are “not set in stone” and they can address the issues at a later date.
The savings include reducing extra-curricular staff salary, administrative staff cuts, eliminating benefits for temporary employees, a position freeze, selling property and eliminating adult education and multi-cultural programs. They will also use $2.225 million from the Rainy Day Fund.
Recent Local News
Related Photos
-
About 200 people attended the Greater Clark County Schools board meeting Tuesday night when 27 people spoke in favor of retaining Superintendent Stephen Daeschner. The board voted 5-2 not to renew his contract. Staff photo by Matt Thacker
-
John McLaughlin, right standing, a teacher at Wilson Elementary School speaks in support of retaining Superintendent Stephen Daeschner at the GCCS board meeting Tuesday night. Staff photo by Matt Thacker
-
The GCCS board voted 5-2 not to renew the contract for Superintendent Stephen Daeschner, second from right, at their meeting Tuesday night. Staff photo by Matt Thacker
Discussion
The doctor is out: 5-2 vote sends superintendent packing
Board approves budget cuts but keeps pools open
- Recent Local News
-
-
SWEET TREAT: Volunteers see the attraction of annual Starlight Strawberry Festival
-
Board chair: Parks district best solution for New Albany and Floyd County
Mayor Jeff Gahan’s veto of a new parks deal between the city and county was upheld earlier this month by the New Albany City Council. While the Floyd County Council agreed to still pay an additional $100,000 toward the parks department for the remainder of the year, the city and county remain under a prior agreement that led to funding discrepancies in the past.
-
THE 'V' WORD: SUB: Prosser Career Education Center moves away from stigma of ‘vocational’ school
- TARC sets Memorial Day and Kennedy Bridge route changes
- Indiana man releases hostages, fatally shoots self
-
Vietnam veteran receives medals 46 years after active duty ends
- More travelers to hit the road this Memorial Day weekend
-
Pence talks bridges, jobs during Southern Indiana swing
“I think everyone senses with the recent bridges agreement, the potential for extraordinary growth,” said Mike Pence, a U.S. House member who is seeking to replace Gov. Mitch Daniels and retain the gubernatorial seat for the Republican Party.
- Police: Gunman has hostages in Indiana realty office
-
Delaware woman dies in I-65 crash
-
Collingsworth Family to perform at Silver Heights Retreat Center in New Albany
The Collingsworth Family will be making a return trip to the Silver Heights Retreat and Camp Center in New Albany on Thursday, June 7.
-
Clark County approves self-insurance plan
Clark County Insurance Agent-of-Record Diane Swank presented health insurance renewal options at the council meeting Monday, but the county’s fiscal body decided to recess its meeting in order to review a proposal to move the county to a self-insured plan.
-
New theater directors at NAHS and FCHS ready for their programs
As the curtain falls on the careers of the teachers who put the theater programs of Floyd Central and New Albany high schools on the map, the new blood coming in have big hopes for the programs they’re taking over.
-
Jeff to start enforcing insurance ordinances
A 2004 ordinance that dictates how much city retirees pay for health insurance – ignored for years by Jeffersonville officials – looks like it will now be enforced.
-
Top Gun showing Saturday at the New Albany riverfront
In honor of Memorial Day, the city of New Albany will show the movie “Top Gun” on its new 40-foot screen at the Riverfront Amphitheater Saturday.
- More Recent Local News Headlines
-
