Superintendent's Puzzling Retirement

No one knew how it might end. For weeks, there has been a cloud hanging over the Monroe City School Board as it grappled with how to handle what was called a "misconduct" allegation against Superintendent Brent Vidrine. Numerous meetings were held as the board sought ways to minimize the effects that a pending investigation would have on the school district, but it would not be business as usual. That all came to a head Monday night at a special meeting of the school board where members, by a 6-1 vote, passed a motion that will allow Mr. Vidrine to retire within 10 days. Board members voting to allow Vidrine to retire were Betty Ward-Cooper, Michael Sampognaro, Jennifer Haneline, Brandon Johnson, Daryl Berry, and Board President Bill Willson. Brenda Shelling voted against the motion. The decision by board members to retire Vidrine came after it again met in an executive session after receiving new information relative to the ongoing investigation of the superintendent. The board would entertain a motion by board member Jennifer Haneline to appoint school employees Sam Moore and Serena White as interim co-superintendents for a period not to exceed six months. That motion passed by a 4-3 vote. Board members Michael Sampognaro, Brenda Shelling, Jennifer Haneline, and Bill Willson voted to accept the appointments. Members Daryl Berry, Betty Ward-Cooper, and Brandon Johnson voted against it. A decision to retire Vidrine certainly raises a lot of questions from the community. The first question is, why was the superintendent apparently given the option to retire right in the middle of an investigation? What happens to the investigation now that there are unconfirmed rumors that Vidrine wasn't the only subject of the investigation? Why is this happening just after Vidrine was finally suspended/placed on leave as the investigation appeared to "heat up"? Questions will have to be answered about how two interim co-superintendents will work together when there have never been two individuals to hold the same position. Wouldn't a better term to use might be commissioners? Will the schools be split up into north and south districts now that the system will have two superintendents, albeit on an interim basis? The questions may be many, but the details of exactly what went on remains a mystery. Only the board can give the community the answers that it seeks and is waiting to receive.