By Tim Arnett
WABASH,Indiana – At a special meeting of the MSD School Board late Thursday afternoon, members of the board unanimously elected Mike Keaffaber, current Assistant Superintendent of Finance, as the school district’s Interim Superintendent. The announcement comes on the heels of soon-to-be former Superintendent Dr. Sandra Weaver’s announcement last week that she is retiring after eight years as Superintendent. Dr. Weaver’s official last day is June 30th.
The announcement would have taken place on the last regularly scheduled board meeting of the month on June 28th, but several members of the board had conflicts and so that meeting has been canceled. That also makes Thursday afternoon’s special meeting the last of Dr. Weaver’s tenure and, as agreed with Board President Matt Driscoll, Weaver took the gavel and banged it down to adjourn her final meeting. Board member John Gouveia said that Dr. Weaver elevated the district and changed the face of education for her students. Gouveia then commented that the change in leadership to Keaffaber is a solid decision in terms of continuity and that the 1981 graduate of Southwood Jr.-Sr. High School is “wholeheartedly invested in our community.”
Keaffaber’s first day as acting superintendent is July 1st. As per the vote Thursday afternoon, he will be the school district’s interim super for three years and, if still in the position at that time, permanently become the MSD’s Superintendent. He spent 23 years in the Oak Hill School system before coming to MSD – at first as the Principal of White’s Residential and Family Services for three years before spending four years as the Principal at Northfield. Keaffaber reacts to be named interim Superintendent on Thursday.
Dr. Sandra Weaver told MiBash News that Keaffaber is the right person for the job.
The board also approved the WMAP Joint Service and Supply Agreement on Thursday. This essentially allows employees of WMAP to be employed by their home schools instead of MSD. They were employed by MSD of Wabash County because, until Thursday, the district was what is known as the “local education administration” for the program. The change will make it easier for WMAP schools to better administer employees themselves and provide better services to the districts. Four schools participate in WMAP: MSD of Wabash County, Wabash City, Manchester Community and Peru Community Schools.