Scottsdale Unified School District suspends search for superintendent
Aug 17, 2018, 4:20 AM
(Twitter Photo/@ScottsdaleUSD)
(Twitter Photo/@ScottsdaleUSD)
PHOENIX — The Scottsdale Unified School District Governing Board will discontinue a superintendent search and instead extend Acting Superintendent Dr. John Kriekard’s contract through 2019.
Kriekard’s contract was extended through June 30, 2019, it was announced Tuesday.
Former Superintendent Dr. Denise Birdwell was placed on paid administrative leave of absence in April, but later dismissed after violating multiple code policies in constructions projects and employment agreements.
Dr. Amy Fuller, who oversees the Coronado Success Initiative, was named new acting superintendent a week later.
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Laura Smith, former Chief Financial Officer at SUSD, resigned in January after she was also placed on administrative leave. She was indicted on two counts of fraud schemes and nine counts of public official conflict of interest.
Other SUSD administators who have either been forced out or resigned include Assistant Superintendent Pamela Sitton and Chief Business Officer Louis Hartwell.
The governing board and Kriekard originally agreed on May 14 to serve as acting superintendent through Sept. 13.
Kriekard expressed that he wants to help “move Scottsdale forward” on Tuesday in the meeting with the board.
“This is about students, about teaching and learning,” he said. “We will be student focused as we move forward with respect and professionalism.”
SUSD and McPherson & Jacobson LLC will collaborate on a permanent superintendent search for the future.
