Prospective superintendent withdraws from contract

Jay Thomas will not be the superintendent of Wrangell Schools next year.

Thomas has asked out of his contract for the 2014-15 school year for personal reasons, according to a school district statement issued Tuesday morning. The school board held a special meeting Monday, and voted 5-0 to allow Thomas out of his contract.

School board members planned an additional meeting Wednesday night to further discuss the issue, though that date fell after Sentinel production deadlines for this edition.

The school system has been looking for a new superintendent since December when present superintendent Rich Rhodes announced his intention to resign at the end of the school year.

Thomas and Delta-Greeley principal Patrick Mayer were selected as finalists from a field of 15 applicants in March. Both Thomas and Mayer interviewed for the position.

School Board President Susan Eagle declined to comment on whether Mayer would be offered the position, and said the board was evaluating options going forward.

Thomas will receive reimbursement for training and travel, according to a district press release.

Calls to the Bering Strait school system – where Thomas presently works – returned only a busy signal Tuesday.

The next regular school board meeting is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Monday at Evergreen Elementary School.