Another departure in Perry-Lecompton school district: Superintendent to resign at the end of the year

Denis Yoder

Perry-Lecompton Public School District’s top administrator is stepping down at the end of this school year — the third administrator in the district this month to announce his departure.

Superintendent Denis Yoder said he plans to retire and will officially submit his resignation at the school board’s next regular meeting on March 7. His tenure at the district will end on June 30.

Yoder, 65, is one of a trio of district administrators who will not return next year.

Denis Yoder

During its Feb. 8 regular meeting, the school board voted to not renew employment contracts for both High School Principal Mike Copple and Assistant Principal Theresa Beatty. Their contracts also end on June 30.

At the beginning of the new year, the district established a new drug-testing policy mandating random hair tests for students participating in extracurricular activities.

District officials confirmed at the time that teachers and most school district staff would not undergo drug testing and that Beatty was twice convicted for drunken driving.

Yoder said on Wednesday that publicity surrounding the new policy affected the board’s decision not to renew Copple’s and Beatty’s contracts.

When asked whether the new policy or publicity affected his decision to resign, Yoder said, “No, that isn’t necessarily the reason, but after 37 years it feels like the time is right to retire.”

Yoder spoke highly of his nearly four decades working in education, especially of his time at the Perry-Lecompton District.

“I’ve enjoyed the opportunity to work with such outstanding teachers, administrators and support staff in Perry-Lecompton schools for the last 29 years,” he said. “I can’t say enough good things about the district.”

Yoder said once he retires he may become more involved in the political process, encouraging the support of public schools.

School board members Travis Daniels, Matt Erickson, Tiffany Ball and Gene Barrett declined to comment on Yoder’s resignation and the board’s decision to not renew Copple’s and Beatty’s contracts.

The school board unanimously adopted the new drug-testing policy during a regular meeting on Nov. 9.

Daniels said on Wednesday that the controversial policy is still in effect.