Manchester Superintendent Resigns
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
NORTH MANCHESTER - After 16 years with Manchester Community Schools, Superintendent Connie S. Curry resigned her position Tuesday at a school board meeting.
Her resignation is effective June 30, when she will be reassigned as a consultant for MCS for the 2001-2002 school year. She will resign her position as consultant June 30, 2002.
A press release distributed by the school corporation's attorney, Al Schlitt, said: "The board of school trustees of the Manchester Community Schools has determined to engage new leadership for the district. As a result, Connie Curry has agreed to step down as superintendent and serve Manchester as a consultant for the coming year."
During her 16 years with MCS, Curry has been principal of Thomas Marshall Elementary School, curriculum director, assistant superintendent and superintendent for 10 years.
"Although this is personally and professionally a life-changing event in my 30 years in public education," Curry said in her resignation letter Tuesday, "I professionally respect the legal responsibility and the rights the board of trustees have to select the superintendent of schools.
"Manchester Community Schools has been a wonderful place to work. The support of the community for the schools is second to none, the expectations are high but they cause all of us to constantly and consistently raise the bar for providing educational services for our youth.
"My final words for the board and others who have served before you," Curry said Tuesday, "thank you for allowing me to be a part of educating the students of Manchester Community Schools."
The board approved Curry's resignation and a separation agreement Tuesday. No questions were allowed to be asked and no answers were given to audience members.
Board president Kent Trickle said there will be "no comment" on Curry's resignation. He referred questions to Schlitt, who passed out a press release and said copies of the separation agreement will be available at his office today.
Schlitt said this morning he would not fax the separation agreement to anyone, but people are welcome to stop by his office and pick it up.
Audience member and Manchester High School science teacher, Jim Myer, asked board members Tuesday when questions would be taken. Trickle said questions are "not an option." Myer asked if questions would be be taken at the next school board meeting. Trickle shook his head yes.
Audience members left the meeting Tuesday with looks of shock on their faces.
Schlitt said this morning the school corporation will pay Curry for next year.
"Under the superintendent's law, she had a contract for next year," Schlitt said. He explained that a superintendent's initial term is three years. After that, it's subject to approval each year.
"(MCS) will be paying her for next year," he said. As to what they will pay her, he referred to her contract with the school corporation.
Curry's pay will be "whatever her current pay was," he said. "It's in the agreement."
According to the Indiana Department of Education, Curry's annual salary as of Oct. 1 was $74,419.
As to why Curry was asked to resign, Schlitt said: "I can't answer that."
In other business, board members:
• Approved administrator and teacher salaries.
• Approved the following resignations: Ned Bowman as boys' head track coach at Manchester High School, Gary Goshert as girls' golf coach at MHS, Kim Robison as part-time cook at MHS and Lorie Sorg as cheer sponsor at MJHS.
• Approved overnight field trip requests for the following: Monica Penrod and Mikki Marshall, MHS students and FFA members, to attend the National FFA Leadership Conference in Washington, D.C., from Monday to July 1; Gwen Mize, MHS agriscience teacher, and FFA members to attend the Indiana FFA State Convention at Purdue University in West Lafayette from June 18 to Thursday; Cindy Goshert, MHS family and consumer science teacher and cheer sponsor, and varsity and junior varsity cheerleaders to attend a cheerleading camp in Myrtle Beach, S.C., from Aug. 5 through 9; and Dave Owens, MHS guidance counselor, and MHS students to attend the annual overnight LIFE retreat at Taylor University in Upland Aug. 26-27.
• Approved the following donations: Encarta Encyclopedia 2000 and Encarta Deluxe Software from Easter Seals Foundation, Microsoft and Region 8 Service Center to Manchester and Laketon elementary schools and MHS libraries; and $375 for a Joe Padre sign for the high school's baseball field from the North Manchester Rotary Club.
• Approved hiring the following: Amy Andrews as a fourth- grade teacher at MES; Jennifer Mishler as a sixth-grade job share (half-time) teacher at MES; Ryan Good as a math teacher at MHS; Janet Zimmerman as technology assistant at MES; and Kim Robinson as study hall supervisory assistant at MHS. Kim Meyer also was approved to be trained as a Reading Recovery teacher for the 2001-02 school year.
• The next school board meetings are July 10 and 24 at 7 p.m. in the Maple Park board meeting room. The public is invited to attend.
Manchester Community Schools Board of Trustees members are: president Kent Trickle, vice president Virginia Gunter, secretary Larry Miller, Todd Speicher, Sally Krouse, Brad Perrott and Thom Frantz. Assistant superintendent is Kim Thurston. [[In-content Ad]]
NORTH MANCHESTER - After 16 years with Manchester Community Schools, Superintendent Connie S. Curry resigned her position Tuesday at a school board meeting.
Her resignation is effective June 30, when she will be reassigned as a consultant for MCS for the 2001-2002 school year. She will resign her position as consultant June 30, 2002.
A press release distributed by the school corporation's attorney, Al Schlitt, said: "The board of school trustees of the Manchester Community Schools has determined to engage new leadership for the district. As a result, Connie Curry has agreed to step down as superintendent and serve Manchester as a consultant for the coming year."
During her 16 years with MCS, Curry has been principal of Thomas Marshall Elementary School, curriculum director, assistant superintendent and superintendent for 10 years.
"Although this is personally and professionally a life-changing event in my 30 years in public education," Curry said in her resignation letter Tuesday, "I professionally respect the legal responsibility and the rights the board of trustees have to select the superintendent of schools.
"Manchester Community Schools has been a wonderful place to work. The support of the community for the schools is second to none, the expectations are high but they cause all of us to constantly and consistently raise the bar for providing educational services for our youth.
"My final words for the board and others who have served before you," Curry said Tuesday, "thank you for allowing me to be a part of educating the students of Manchester Community Schools."
The board approved Curry's resignation and a separation agreement Tuesday. No questions were allowed to be asked and no answers were given to audience members.
Board president Kent Trickle said there will be "no comment" on Curry's resignation. He referred questions to Schlitt, who passed out a press release and said copies of the separation agreement will be available at his office today.
Schlitt said this morning he would not fax the separation agreement to anyone, but people are welcome to stop by his office and pick it up.
Audience member and Manchester High School science teacher, Jim Myer, asked board members Tuesday when questions would be taken. Trickle said questions are "not an option." Myer asked if questions would be be taken at the next school board meeting. Trickle shook his head yes.
Audience members left the meeting Tuesday with looks of shock on their faces.
Schlitt said this morning the school corporation will pay Curry for next year.
"Under the superintendent's law, she had a contract for next year," Schlitt said. He explained that a superintendent's initial term is three years. After that, it's subject to approval each year.
"(MCS) will be paying her for next year," he said. As to what they will pay her, he referred to her contract with the school corporation.
Curry's pay will be "whatever her current pay was," he said. "It's in the agreement."
According to the Indiana Department of Education, Curry's annual salary as of Oct. 1 was $74,419.
As to why Curry was asked to resign, Schlitt said: "I can't answer that."
In other business, board members:
• Approved administrator and teacher salaries.
• Approved the following resignations: Ned Bowman as boys' head track coach at Manchester High School, Gary Goshert as girls' golf coach at MHS, Kim Robison as part-time cook at MHS and Lorie Sorg as cheer sponsor at MJHS.
• Approved overnight field trip requests for the following: Monica Penrod and Mikki Marshall, MHS students and FFA members, to attend the National FFA Leadership Conference in Washington, D.C., from Monday to July 1; Gwen Mize, MHS agriscience teacher, and FFA members to attend the Indiana FFA State Convention at Purdue University in West Lafayette from June 18 to Thursday; Cindy Goshert, MHS family and consumer science teacher and cheer sponsor, and varsity and junior varsity cheerleaders to attend a cheerleading camp in Myrtle Beach, S.C., from Aug. 5 through 9; and Dave Owens, MHS guidance counselor, and MHS students to attend the annual overnight LIFE retreat at Taylor University in Upland Aug. 26-27.
• Approved the following donations: Encarta Encyclopedia 2000 and Encarta Deluxe Software from Easter Seals Foundation, Microsoft and Region 8 Service Center to Manchester and Laketon elementary schools and MHS libraries; and $375 for a Joe Padre sign for the high school's baseball field from the North Manchester Rotary Club.
• Approved hiring the following: Amy Andrews as a fourth- grade teacher at MES; Jennifer Mishler as a sixth-grade job share (half-time) teacher at MES; Ryan Good as a math teacher at MHS; Janet Zimmerman as technology assistant at MES; and Kim Robinson as study hall supervisory assistant at MHS. Kim Meyer also was approved to be trained as a Reading Recovery teacher for the 2001-02 school year.
• The next school board meetings are July 10 and 24 at 7 p.m. in the Maple Park board meeting room. The public is invited to attend.
Manchester Community Schools Board of Trustees members are: president Kent Trickle, vice president Virginia Gunter, secretary Larry Miller, Todd Speicher, Sally Krouse, Brad Perrott and Thom Frantz. Assistant superintendent is Kim Thurston. [[In-content Ad]]