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Superintendent in Lansing resigns

By Caroline Trowbridge - | Dec 1, 1999

At its meeting on Monday, the Lansing school board is expected to revisit the question of who will be superintendent of schools for the next seven months.

The board, at a special meeting last week, accepted the immediate resignation of Superintendent Michael J. Wilson, who had been suspended in October following accusations that he had sent salacious e-mail messages from his office computer during the workday.

According to Paula Mengel, board clerk, board members agreed to pay Wilson the equivalent of 2 1/2 months’ salary about $16,515. In addition, Wilson was to release the board and the district from all claims.

For the time being, Jan Jorgensen, principal at Lansing Intermediate School, will continue as temporary acting superintendent, Mengel said. At last week’s board meeting, some members wanted to begin a search for an interim superintendent. A split occurred on the board over that issue, when some board members said they wanted Jorgensen to continue running the district through the school year.

Although no agenda has been set for the board’s meeting next Monday, Mengel said she assumes the board again will address the issue of whether Jorgensen should continue serving as temporary superintendent.

The district, which serves about 1,950 students, has begun the search for a permanent replacement for Wilson, Mengel said.

“It is advertised, and we are sending out fliers, brochures and applications,” she said.

The board hopes to have a new superintendent in place by July 1.

At next Monday’s meeting, the board also plans to fill two board vacancies that were created when Helen Wilber resigned Sept. 20 and Tony Rush resigned Nov. 1. Last week, board members interviewed nine applicants: Brian Bode, Keith Rickard, Tom Sickinger, John Skelton, Michael Howell, David Couvelha, Margie Jewell, Tony Painton and Stuart Lyon.