Kempenich retained as superintendent

By Everett Brazil, III

The Newkirk Herald Journal

NEWKIRK — The Newkirk Public Schools Board of Education met for a special meeting Thursday afternoon, Jan. 19, at 3:3- p.m. to determine the state of Superintendent Scott Kempenich’s contract for renewal. The Board voted in a highly contested decision to renew the contract for one more year.

The vote was originally scheduled for the Board’s regular monthly meeting, Jan. 9. Due to one board member being absent due to illness, a special meeting was held to hold the vote.

Members present at the meeting were Board President Russell Cobb, along with Susan Rhea, Trevor O’Brien, P.J. Butler and Jeff Schieber.

Several community supporters backed Kempinech, including LaDonna Hale, Michelle Vap and Marvin Johns.
There was no one present who had an opposing voice against the superintendent, Cobb said.

The school board went into executive session to choose whether to renew his contract. They returned to vote to renew the contract, with a three to two vote. Cobb, Rhea and O’Brien voted in favor of renewing Kempenich’s contract. Butler and Schieber had the two dissenting votes.

The board members debated for both a three-year contract and a two-year contract, both of which were voted down. The board eventually chose to renew Kempenich’s contract for one more school year.

Kepenich’s renewed contract begins in June, following the renewal this January.