BVA school board accepts resignation of superintendent Wilkinson
Mark Soroka
Following a lengthy executive session Monday, the Belle Vernon Area School Board voted to accept the sudden resignation of the district’s superintendent John Wilkinson.
Wilkinson
By a 9-0 unanimous vote, Belle Vernon Area School District’s board of education Monday accepted the resignation of Superintendent Dr. John D. Wilkinson without explanation to the public.
Board President Lou Rood made the announcement late Monday evening during a five-minute special legislative meeting at the BVA administration building. The board earlier held an executive session that lasted about two hours. Wilkinson was present during the executive session but left the building before the special meeting started.
Rood said that the district is appointing Marion Elementary School Principal Dr. Michele Dowell as substitute superintendent while the district conducts a search for a new superintendent. Deidra Ann Stepko was also appointed as acting principal of Marion Elementary.
Wilkinson, who became superintendent on July 1, 2012, will receive up to a year’s salary with benefits. He was earning $155,981 plus benefits for the 2017-18 school year. The resignation is effective immediately, according to the terms provided in the memorandum of understanding submitted to the board.
One of the individuals who packed the board room asked Rood why the taxpayers had no say about the compensation package that was given to Wilkinson.
“What came about is in direct relationship to what’s allowed under the school code,” said Rood.
Added Solicitor Ira Weiss, “It was the opinion of the board that this was the best course to set the district forward.”
Rood and other members would not comment on the reasons for Wilkinson’s resignation.
“I can’t go into detail because it’s a personnel matter,” said Weiss, when asked why Wilkinson decided to step down. “But there were issues as to the way the district was being operated. The board discussed those issues with Dr. Wilkinson, and we thought this would be the best solution.”
Weiss added that board is confident the district’s business manager, James Dzurica, can complete work on the budget for the 2018-19 school year.
“We believe that with the administration that is here, it can be done,” he said.