KNIGHTSTOWN - Former Warsaw Community School Corporation Superintendent Dr. David B. McGuire has a new job.

Tuesday, The Charles A. Beard Memorial School Board announced McGuire will head their school district beginning July 1. McGuire replaces Hal Jester, who is retiring after 17 years. The school corporation is near Knightstown, Ind.

McGuire, a 1965 graduate of Warsaw High School, has 22 years experience as an educator. A 1970 Manchester College graduate, he has served as elementary and middle school principal, a high school administrator, assistant superintendent and superintendent for three years.

According to newspaper reports, McGuire will make $93,500 plus benefits at the 1,400-student district named after Charles A. Beard, a noted historian born in a small town near Knightstown in eastern Indiana.

On July 27, 2005, the Warsaw School accepted McGuire's resignation and settlement greement. On Aug. 2, Ralph Bailey was named interim superintendent. Earlier this year, Dr. Robert Haworth was named superintendent, effective July 1.

A statement regarding McGuire's resignation, read by Board President Ron Yeiter at the July 27 meeting, said, "Dr. McGuire has served WCS well and faithfully for 19 years. He has served as a teacher, a principal, an assistant superintendent and for the last three years, as superintendent. During his tenure as superintendent, many difficult decisions had to be made. Perhaps chief among these was the decision to close three schools.

"As a result of the last school board election, the majority of the board has determined it is in the best interests of the school corporation to retain new leadership in line with board priorities. Dr. McGuire accepts that decision and agrees to resign as superintendent and serve the district as a consultant to assist the board and his successor during the transition."

McGuire's superintendent contract was to expire June 30, 2007, and he had an indefinite teacher contract with Warsaw Schools. The agreement allows his contracts to be terminated "effective the close of business July 27, 2005". McGuire acted as a consultant until Jan. 13. During the extended employment period, McGuire received the same salary, retirement and insurance benefits to which he was entitled under his superintendent contract, worth approximately $64,000.

The agreement stated that in any action or threatened action against McGuire by a third person relating to the operation of the school corporation, the school corporation will pay legal defense and indemnify him against liability to the same extent as it would were he still superintendent at the time the action or threatened action is begun.

On April 17, the Warsaw School Board approved the settlement agreement with Janet Helton and Mary Scott. The school corporation will pay only a $5,000 deductible. The school corporation's insurance company, Indiana Insurance Co., will pay the undisclosed settlement.

According to previous Times-Union stories, in August 2004, Helton and Scott filed suit against the school corporation and superintendent for wrongful termination. Helton and Scott were fired from their respective positions as personnel coordinator and payroll coordinator June 10 by then-Superintendent Dr. David McGuire. The women filed a lawsuit in Kosciusko Circuit Court against Warsaw Community Schools and McGuire, personally and as superintendent.

Helton and Scott sought damages for wrongful termination, recovery for the humiliation or harm to their respective reputations, that their positions be returned, recovery of their financial losses, attorney fees and costs and any other equitable relief. [[In-content Ad]]