Sean C. Morgan
The District 55 School Board accepted the resignation of Supt. Don Schrader Monday night.
The decision came during a special board meeting following a closed executive session.
“Due to personal reasons, I have decided to step down as your superintendent,” Schrader said in a statement he had prepared for staff. “My intention was to continue as your superintendent until the end of my contract on June 30, 2016. After discussions with your School Board, we have agreed to end my time here in Sweet Home as of Dec. 30, 2014.”
“A clean break moves this district forward in a positive direction with the changes ahead of us,” Board Chairman Mike Reynolds said of the decision to make the resignation effective immediately.
With the decision, the board agreed to a severance package of $94,801, which represents eight months of salary and pays for unused vacation time.
The board accepted the resignation 8-0. Present were Reynolds, Chanz Keeney, Jason Redick, Leena Ellis, David VanDerlip, Jenny Daniels, Kevin Burger and newly appointed member Nick Augsburger. Jason Van Eck was absent.
The board also appointed Sweet Home High School Principal Keith Winslow as interim superintendent and retired SHHS Principal Pat Stineff as interim principal at the high school. Stineff has been a regular presence at the high school as she has been running the Access College Today program.
The two are working on special contracts and can complete the school year.
The situation next school year will be fluid as far as the superintendent’s position goes, Reynolds said. He said Winslow may need to “unretire” as the district searches for a new superintendent.
Keith is willing and able, and he has been in the district for more than 30 years, Reynolds said. “He knows the district inside out.”
The district faces several issues in the new year, including the search for a new high school principal and a decision about the four-day school week.
Winslow will do well helping the district through the upcoming transitions, Reynolds said, with these two issues as well as the search for a new superintendent.
Schrader said he had moved back to Roseburg in October for personal family-related reasons, and being in Roseburg again is something he had been looking for. That’s where his grandchildren live.
“I’m going to look for other jobs,” Schrader said. “I’ve been a superintendent for 10 years. Anything’s open.”
He plans to focus his search in Douglas County, where he can continue to deal with the family-related issues.
“I love working here, and I wanted to continue that relationship, but I think because of that change, it made it difficult,” Schrader said. “I appreciate the board working with me on this one. I think there’s many great teachers and staff members here right now – and the administrators here are pretty awesome.”
Given that, he is optimistic about the district going forward, he said.
“The district has taken great strides in student learning, and I am proud to have been involved with the development of so many excellent programs.
“In particular, technology and digital learning have come a long way, and the Sweet Home Leadership Academy brought teachers and administrators together to focus on the development of highly effective standards-based lessons.”
The implementation of the four-day week has increased and improved staff development opportunities, Schrader said, and he believes redefining the Office of Student Achievement and adding mentor teachers and coaches will greatly improve student learning.
“I have enjoyed my time in Sweet Home, and it has been an honor to work with all of you,” Schrader said. “I will not forget the many close personal and professional relationships I have made here, and it is my hope that our paths cross again soon.”