OSSIAN — The former superintendent of the North West Hendricks School Corporation has been chosen as the new superintendent for a school district in northern Indiana.
Mike Springer is expected to take over as the Northern Wells Community School Corporation superintendent beginning Jan. 1, 2021, but Springer would start working for the district starting on July 1.
Springer will follow Scott Mills who will retire Dec. 31 after 13 years as superintendent.
The district will hold a public hearing on May 26 to gather community input on their pick.
The Northern Wells school board received 22 applications for the position and Springer was the unanimous choice, according to the corporation.
According to Springer’s proposed contract, he would earn a $151,500 salary with performance based increases.
PREVIOUS | Outgoing superintendent received $116K
As Call 6 Investigates reported, Springer resigned from the North West Hendricks School Corporation in October and received $116,631 in compensation, records show.
Springer and the school board in Hendricks County were at odds over how the board handled sexual misconduct allegations involving a Tri-West High School teacher and coach.
Because the board did not have any apparent grounds to fire Springer, the district was legally obligated to pay Springer for the remainder of his contract.
He is currently responsible for K-12 Client Services at CORE Construction in Schererville.
“During the selection process, Springer was impressed with the close-knit community and core values of Northern Wells,” read a district in a statement to RTV6. “He is eager to join the community and to support the school district’s continued growth and development."
Northern Wells is a slightly larger school district, with 2,500 students, about 800 more than North West Hendricks School Corporation.
Springer released the following statement to RTV6:
"I am excited to be joining the Northern Wells school district and community. The relationship between a school board and the superintendent is extremely important to the culture of a school district. Throughout the selection process, I was impressed with the authenticity of the school board and our open dialogue. Having a long-term commitment to the school district and community is important to this school board and it is important to me. Scott Mills has done a great job leading the school district the past thirteen years, and I am looking forward to working with him over the next six months to provide a smooth transition for Northern Wells Community Schools."
