East Gibson School Corp. announces new interim superintendent

GIBSON CO., Ind. (WFIE) - The East Gibson School Corporation approved Richard Rutherford as their new interim superintendent at a Monday night school corporation meeting.

[Previous Story: Court orders East Gibson School Superintendent to recovery center]

A little over a month ago, the school corporation issued a letter to their superintendent, James Wilson, letting him know they intended to fire him. In very short order, the school corporation has a new a new one; at least for now.

Last month, the East Gibson School Board told Wilson he was going to be fired because of his job performance.

After an arrest for OWI, he gave them a letter of resignation, which they approved.

On Monday night, East Gibson School Corporation officially named Richard Rutherford as the new interim superintendent.

“I’m the new interim superintendent,” said Rutherford. “I am here at East Gibson School Corporation, and I’m looking forward to it.”

With help from Indiana State University, school officials got in contact with him, he interviewed, and he got the job, his latest in a long career in education.

“I spent 23 years, I was in Vincennes where I was a 5th grade teacher and also an Elementary principal,” said Rutherford. “I was a superintendent at South Spencer and then Superintendent at Salem School Corporation as well.”

Over the next month, Rutherford says he plans on working closely with faculty and interfacing with students to get things back on track after an atypical start to the school year.

“They’re going to see me out and about,” said Rutherford. “They’re going to see me in each of the classrooms, they’re going to see me.”

He says collaboration is what he’s hoping to foster.

“It’s important to have a I feel like it’s important for us to have a good climate and culture for all of us to be on the same page, connecting and being one,” said Rutherford. “Working together.”

Rutherford was previously the superintendent for South Spencer School Corporation for six years.

According to South Spencer school officials, Rutherford’s contract was non-renewed because of ‘personnel matters.’

He was also recently superintendent at Salem Community Schools in Southeast Indiana.

According to their school board minutes on June 22 of this year, the board voted six to zero to end his contract without cause.

He was given a 60-day notice.

Salem Community Schools haven’t gotten back to us on a reason why.

Now he is the interim superintendent, and that stint could be brief if he isn’t eventually appointed to it permanently.

Board members say throughout October they’ll be interviewing candidates and continuing a search for a full-time super.

They say by sometime in November they hope to have someone hired and ready to bring some stability.

Our Jacee Caldwell looked into Rutherford’s past position at Salem Community School at 5p.m. on Tuesday:

Here is our live coverage from our 5.p.m. show Monday: