MADISON — The Madison Local School District board of education is expected to vote on a new superintendent Friday, according to board president Tim Wigton.
The “virtual meeting” will begin at 3 p.m. and is expected to last about 30 minutes, according to Wigton.
The board president said a link to the online-only meeting will be available on the district website.
The new leader will replace acting Supt. John Thomas, who was hired in May 2019. He replaced Lee Kaple, who stepped in after district superintendent Shelley Hilderbrand was placed on paid administrative leave in the fall of 2018.
Hilderbrand’s tenure at Madison was embroiled in controversy, including a brief walk-out by approximately 200 Madison High School students in March 2018 to protest her decision to discipline students who directed negative tweets toward the administration on her Twitter feed.
During her tenure, a group of parents questioned the STEM curriculum that would be mandatory in the district in the place of other electives.
Hildebrand also recommended the board not renew the contract of popular teacher Eddie Walker. More than 150 people attended a May 31, 2018 school board meeting and it was agreed by a unanimous vote of the board that Walker’s contract should be renewed.
The board negotiated a resignation agreement in June 2019 with Hilderbrand that pays her through the end of her initial three-year contact, which expires at the end of the current school year.
Friday’s decision will come down to three candidates, according to Wigton.
“We knew the school community was upset with (Hilderbrand) and we wanted the community to continue being engaged, so we had community members speak with the candidates and ask questions,” he said.
“We made our decision based off of our own opinions and the school community’s opinions,” Wigton said.
