MANLIUS — The Bureau Valley School District is losing its superintendent.
Current superintendent John Bute delivered a verbal notice to the school board that he will be leaving the district in July to take a position in the St. Louis Metro East area.
Bute said Wednesday his time at Bureau Valley has been "unique," beginning with the fire at the central office building less than three weeks after he started.
"That was a great way to say welcome to the community," he said.
While it's unfortunate the perpetrator will probably never be caught, Bute said the incident served to bring the board together a little bit in the process of dealing with the fire and seeing to the construction of a new central office.
Bute said his contract with the new district, which he declined to name, was finalized Wednesday, and he would deliver his written resignation today, Thursday.
In March 2010, the board hired Bute to fill the position held by the retiring Terry Gutshall. Bute,
who came to Bureau Valley from the Pleasant Hill Elementary School District in Peoria, assumed his duties July 1, 2010, and was given a two-year contract, set to expire June 30, 2012.
Bute did not have a smooth tenure at Bureau Valley. In addition to the fire, in October 2010, demolition began on the former Sheffield school building. Problems led to many delays and the destruction of the building's exterior clock, which had been promised to the village.
There were also personnel issues. In March 2011, the board voted to not rehire Mike Patterson as high school principal, and teachers Eric Bryant, Duane Price and Lesley Banister, despite the protests of more than 100 people who attended a series of board meetings.
In December, new principal Patrick Showalter was put on administrative leave following an incident with a student, and 98 percent of the Bureau Valley Education Association teachers' union approved a statement expressing displeasure with how the school board and Bute communicated with them.
Also, both Bureau Valley South Principal Denise Bolin and Bureau Valley North Principal Gina Hall announced their retirements, effective June 30.
In January, the board voted to extend Bute’s contract for one more year, with an automatic additional year’s extension if Bute met unspecified “board-certified goals.” The vote to extend the contract was 6-1, with board member Jim Lilley casting the negative vote.
On Wednesday, Bute said he will stay on in the district into July at the request of the board to finish some ongoing projects.
Although Bute said he will enjoy being closer to family in his new position, he is thankful to many people in the Bureau Valley District.
"I thank the board for their support of me, for the teachers and students who were friendly and tried to do a good job, and for the folks in the five communities who welcomed me, especially the Sheffield Lions Club and the Walnut Rotary Club," he said.
The school board will meet at 7 p.m. tonight, Thursday, to discuss its superintendent search process.
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