CHARLOTTESVILLE — The Eastern Hancock School Board is moving to hire an interim superintendent as it begins what is expected to be a lengthy search for a new chief executive.
Last week, the board approved the retirement of Superintendent Vicki McGuire, who plans to leave the district at the end of the month. McGuire has been superintendent of Eastern Hancock for 3½ years.
Scott Petry, school board president, said board members reviewed potential interim candidates in an executive session on Friday, which followed a special board meeting. He said the process to hire a new superintendent could take about four months or more, depending on applicants.
“We’ll take our time, and do it right,” Petry said. “There’s no need to rush.”
Petry said he’s unsure how long an interim superintendent will serve. Board member Scott Johnson said a stronger pool of candidates might exist in the spring rather than late summer or fall.
Petry said it took four to five months to hire McGuire, who joined Eastern Hancock on Jan. 1, 2016.
The district also plans to confer with the Indiana School Boards Association on the hiring process, Petry said.
At the end of last week’s meeting, Tammy Stunda, one of the newest members of the school board, led the board in thanking McGuire for all she’s accomplished since 2016. During McGuire’s tenure, the district made several infrastructure improvements and continued its good record of performance.
McGuire previously told the Daily Reporter that the decision to leave Eastern Hancock, with two years remaining on her contract, is a personal one. McGuire said her family lives in southeastern Indiana, in Versailles, about 65 miles from Charlottesville. Her husband is also retired.
The next Eastern Hancock School Board meeting is planned for 7 p.m. Aug. 12 at the district’s administrative offices, 10370 E. County Road 250N in Charlottsville.
