The Mars Area School Board has decided that a change is needed at the top of the district’s administration.
By a vote of 8-1 Tuesday night, the board approved a motion to authorize the board president to notify Superintendent Dr. Wesley Shipley in writing that the board will not retain him after the expiration of his current contract on June 30th. Board member Christine Valenta was the only vote in opposition to that motion.
The Board President and Vice President have also been authorized to identify possible search consultants to assist the district in bringing recommendations to the full board. That process is expected to begin immediately and a replacement could be named before the end of the current school year.
Assistant Superintendent Dr. Elizabeth McMahon had been dividing her time and serving as the principal of the Mars Primary Center. She will return to focusing on her first job as soon as an interim principal can be found for the Primary Center.
No specific reason was publicly given for the decision other than the fact that a majority of board members believed that this was in the best interest of the district. As there have been no allegations of misconduct, Shipley will continue to perform the duties of his position through the end of his term.
The Mars School Board unanimously voted to hire Dr. Shipley from the Shaler School District for a 4 year term beginning July 1, 2015. He was given a one year extension last year in order to allow the district’s four new board members input about this decision which impacts the future of the district.
