STURGIS, S.D. – The Meade 46-1 School District and its superintendent are going their separate ways.
Jeff Simmons, during his monthly school board recap visit with KBHB News this morning, confirmed the news.
“It’s time to move on and let the school district find new leadership and take them in a direction school board members are looking for. It’s been a great opportunity for me and a great experience. It’s a wonderful community and very diverse and a lot of things going on. I have enjoyed my time here because my kids grew up here and went to school here. It will always be a special place for me and my family.”
Simmons announced his departure at Monday night’s school board meeting in a written statement.
He will finish off the school year, with June 30 being his last day.
Simmons and some board members from the rural areas of the district have been at odds the past year. Rural members had even brought forward a plan to split the district. Rural members touted underfunding, a deficit that resulted in loss of teachers and the talk of possible closure of some rural schools.
After a warning from the head of the State Education Department such a move could lead to large tax increases and a growing deficit, calmer heads prevailed with a promise from Simmons to find solutions.
Simmons says he has no future plans right at the moment, but was “excited about any future opportunities.”
