LEROY – John Varner has resigned from his post as superintendent of LeRoy-Ostrander Public Schools.

Saturday, April 22, 2000

LEROY – John Varner has resigned from his post as superintendent of LeRoy-Ostrander Public Schools.

Varner submitted his resignation at the board of education’s Monday, April 17, meeting.

While the vote of the school board was unanimous to accept Varner’s letter of resignation, the board’s decision to accept a statement about the resignation was not unanimous.

Board members Leslie Johnson and Craig Nelson each abstained. (Editor’s Note; Attempts to reach Johnson and Nelson as well as school board president Gerald Payne this weekend were unsuccessful)

The statement merely said that the school board and superintendent mutually agreed to severe Varner’s contract with the school district. The contract expires June 30.

Varner told the Austin Daily Herald, "I’ve enjoyed a good run here."

He joined the district in July 1996 and replaced former long-time superintendent of schools Darold Yost, who retired.

Before coming to the LeRoy – Ostrander post he was superintendent of a 330-student district in Wisconsin.

He distinguished himself in many ways, including directing the district’s major school facilities upgrading and expansion completed a year ago.

Varner also spearheaded an effort to link the district with the information superhighway and upgraded its technology capabilities.

The superintendent said he was hired with specific goals in mind and one of them was to "bring the school district up to date." He said he will leave feeling he helped the school board accomplish those goals.

However, he also admitted that bringing changes is always a challenge.

"Change is one of the hardest things for anyone just to go through," he said.

"I’ve enjoyed the challenges and working with all the great people in the community, the teaching staff and school board," he said.

The school board has formed a search committee to find a replacement for Varner.