LEXINGTON — Lexington Local Schools Supt. Jeremy Secrist said he is starting a new chapter.
Secrist submitted his letter of resignation to the board Thursday. The letter states Secrists’ resignation is effective July 31, “pending Board approval in (his) new position.”
It was unclear early Thursday afternoon to which board Secrist was referring.
“I want to start by saying how deeply appreciative I am of everything you do each day, the impact you have on the lives of our students and your colleagues, and the difference you have made in the lives of my four children,” Secrist wrote in a letter shared with Lexington staff and local media.
“You are strong, supportive, and compassionate, as evidenced in how you continue to show up for each other and our community in times of need,” he write.
Secrist has worked for the school system for 15 years and spent the last six as its superintendent.
“My family and I are ready for the next chapter in our lives, and we know that we will forever be in gratitude for our time in the Lexington Local School District,” he wrote.
“Good luck as you continue to move this district forward, know that I will always be here as a resource if needed.”
School board President Keith Stoner told Richland Source the “new position” is not with Lexington schools.
“(Secrist) been looking for something new for a while,” Stoner said. “Unfortunately for the district and fortunately for him, I think he’s found it. I’m excited for him and a little sad for us.”
Stoner said the Lexington school board will schedule a special meeting to accept Secrist’s resignation next week.
“We won’t accept it (his resignation) until the other board acts on their hiring of him in that position,” Stoner said.
The school board is now in the position of finding a district leader with four weeks left before the start of the school year.
Lexington is also in search of a head football coach after Andrew Saris, who also worked as the high school dean of students, died suddenly last month.
“We’re down a number of people. We’re working through a lot of things on which administrators will be asked to step up and help out and do a little more,” Stoner said.
The board passed a resolution Wednesday evening authorizing assistant superintendent Kevin Young to “serve as the Superintendent’s designee for any matters which would otherwise require the Superintendent’s approval during any authorized absence of the Superintendent” through July 31.
In other news, the district is breaking ground on a new elementary school next week adjacent to Western Elementary School.
Stoner said construction fencing will be installed around the site and the existing Western Elementary playground will be closed. A temporary playground will be installed in its place.
(Below is a PDF of a letter from Jeremy Secrist to the Lexington Local Schools board of education Thursday.)
This is a developing story and will be updated.
