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By ABIGAIL ROBERTS

Correspondent

STANFORD – Lincoln County Schools Superintendent Michael Rowe will not seek another term after his contract expires.

That’s according to a letter Rowe sent Feb. 25 to the Board of Education.

“I am submitting this letter to inform the Lincoln County Board of Education that I am not seeking another term as Superintendent of the Lincoln County Schools,” Rowe writes. “My current 4-year contract expires June 30, 2023.”

Rowe said in the attached email that he is not required to notify the board before the expiration of the current contract, but he wanted to provide the board with as much time as possible to complete the process of hiring a new superintendent.

“The state of the district is strong. Lincoln County Schools is well-positioned to navigate the changing landscape of public education, with organizational structure, policies and practices that serve our students’ best interests,” Rowe said. “I am committed to a seamless transition to new leadership and will provide whatever support is necessary to ensure the continued success of Lincoln County Schools.”

Rowe had initially resigned at the end of last year and was set to be a consultant to the board until June, but due to an Open Meetings violation, he was reinstated as superintendent in January.

The school board’s new attorney, Grant Chenoweth, recommended the board rescind Rowe’s resignation and consulting contract to avoid future litigation. Those are two topics that cannot be discussed during a closed session, Chenoweth said.

Rowe has served as superintendent of Lincoln County Schools for six-and-a-half years.