The Griswold School Board, Wednesday evening, unanimously voted to enter into a Superintendent Sharing Agreement with the Lenox Community School District, contingent upon both districts agreeing on the terms and conditions. The next step is for the Lenox School District to hold a similar meeting. That will take place 6-p.m. Monday at the Lenox Junior-Senior High School gymnasium. The purpose is to update the patrons and allow them to ask question before the Board takes a vote.

Lenox Superintendent David Henrichs told KJAN News prior to his meeting with the public Wednesday, he spent the day talking to the Griswold teaching staff. He says he shared personal and professional information about himself, and answered their questions. Henrichs asked the teachers if they had to decide today on whether or not they were in favor of sharing a Superintendent, 95-percent raised their hands in approval. The other 5-percent didn’t raise their hands for any of the options. Overall, he says it was a “very positive” meet-and-greet.

He also spent time with the district’s Principals, the Business Manager and Superintendent’s Secretary, to learn about the Operational aspects of the school. Lenox is about an hour’s drive from Griswold. During the Community meeting later in the evening, Henrichs said patrons were understandably concerned about how splitting his time between the two districts would affect his health and well-being.

He said they worried about him being “burned-out,” by taking on the huge responsibility, and that he would still be able to spend time with his family. Henrichs has three daughters, two of whom are still in school. He said he greatly appreciated the communities’ concerns. Henrichs said some of the specific questions asked by those attending the meeting, are difficult to answer right now, because the details have yet to be worked out between the two school boards.

For example, who make decisions on snow days, if he’s not there. Henrichs said while those details need to be worked out, the “Foundation is there for a good working relationship.” He says overall, he’s excited about the opportunity, if it does come to fruition. He acknowledged there are always challenges, and “bumps in the road,” when it comes to change and transition, but both Boards will do the best they can to head those off early, and he’s confident the staff in both districts will be able to overcome those challenges and make it work very well.”