UPDATE: NACS Board releases and agrees to superintendent’s retirement June 30

FORT WAYNE, Ind. (Fort Wayne’s NBC) - The Northwest Allen County Schools board signed a retirement and release agreement at Monday night’s board meeting, allowing Superintendent Chris Himsel to retire at the end of June. Below are the news release sent to our newsroom by NACS officials and an excerpt from the letter Dr. Himsel submitted to the board that he shared with Fort Wayne’s NBC News. Click here to read the news release. Click here to read the excerpt from the letter.

Below is a previous article from Fort Wayne’s NBC reporter Karli VanCleave that aired Monday evening.

PREVIOUSLY REPORTED:

FORT WAYNE, Ind. (Fort Wayne’s NBC) - Northwest Allen County Schools board members are discussing the terms of Superintendent Chris Himsel’s pending retirement at Tuesday night’s meeting.

Members are discussing what they call a “retirement and release agreement” at the meeting.

Valaurie Ebert is a NACS parent and she says Superintendent Himsel has been a good leader to her children in the district for many years.

“I think it’s a sad day for NACS, he was a great leader,” she said. “He did the best he could with the unprecedented times. He tried to keep kids in school and he did a good job at it.”

Ebert says Dr. Himsel has done an incredible job, especially prioritizing education throughout the pandemic.

Fort Wayne’s NBC News has reported that during past meetings, Dr. Himsel has been met with criticism from a group of parents. Those parents often asked for his resignation after controversy surrounding the district mask mandate.

“I watched him at several meetings where he was degraded, yelled at, cussed at,” Ebert said. “He always held himself with composure and decorum for a superintendent.”

Dr. Himsel announced a 30 day leave for “personal health reasons” in Janurary and it was extended until June 30th. Leaders say that’s when his retirement will officially begin.

In the meantime, Ebert says she wishes Dr. Himsel the best and thanks him for his time serving the district. She says, she hopes the next district leader will carry on his legacy.

“I wish him the best and hope he gets time with is family,” she said.

If the board approves the agreement, they say they will immediately begin looking for Dr. Himsel’s replacement.

Fort Wayne’s NBC News will have updates through the night.

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