Riley County’s USD 378 Superintendent Brad Starnes is resigning. In a letter to Board members Monday,Starnes says he reached the decision “after thoughtful and prayerful consideration.” The resignation would take effect at the end of his present contract June 30th of this year.
Starnes goes on to say that since 2000 he has had the pleasure of serving in what he considers the state’s greatest school district, adding his passion for Riley County runs deep. He also says the trust that has been established over time has been relinquished and without it he cannot adequately lead this district–and his hope lies in the legacy of leaving it better than he found it.
Some difficult times have been reported in the last couple years, with a USD 378 bond proposal soundly defeated in June of 2013, by a more than two to one margin. In an email to KIDS committee members who worked on the proposal shortly after the election, Starnes indicated “disappointed doesn’t describe the feeling, but our voters have spoken.” And in Sepember of that same year, More than 200 people showed up for Riley County’s USD 378 school board meeting, many to show support for formerly suspended high school business teacher Mark Laurie who was re-instated. Just last August, after several weeks of trying to find a replacement for a position vacated by outgoing Riley County USD 378 School board member, Dan Thomson, board members finally approved a replacement board member to fill the vacant position, with Tom Richard selected.
