Lee County Schools announces interim superintendent

Reporter: Emma Heaton
Published: Updated:
Ken Savage is the interim superintendent a the School District of Lee County. (CREDIT: WINK News)

The Lee County School District has a new superintendent, and his face may be familiar to some.

Kenneth Savage, former interim superintendent and current chief strategy officer at LCSD was elected as interim superintendent once again.

The announcement came Monday afternoon after a special meeting called to accept former superintendent Dr. Christopher Bernier’s sudden separation agreement.

Last year, Bernier said he had intended to continue leading the school district for the remainder of his term. However, his plans changed without explanation.

The district accepted Bernier’s separation agreement, and he will remain on the payroll for 20 weeks after Tuesday, receiving his current salary of $275,400.

“I think the immediate rush to go and fill the position with just barely a 24-hour notice to the public is a bit hasty and uncalled for,” one woman said during the public comment portion of the school board meeting.

The woman asked the board to keep taxpayers in mind. After, the board decided to move into contract negotiations with the voted-on interim superintendent.

Savage’s salary will also be over $200,000.

“Flabbergasted and astounded we went from superintendent to a vacant seat,” said Dr. Edward Grass during the public comment portion. “I don’t ever recall a superintendent leaving the district so quickly unless they died.”

Bernier had announced in October he would not run for re-election in Lee County after voters decided to change the position from an appointed one to an elected one.

Bernier started looking for a job when that became a reality, including running to become superintendent of Omaha public schools, a job he did not get.

At the meeting Monday Michael Ramirez, Chief of Staff for the school district, and Savage were both nominated. Savage won with a majority vote.

Bernier has 21 days to consider the agreement and may revoke it within seven days of execution.

To read the separation agreement between Bernier and the district, click here.

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