The Indian River School District has named its new superintendent. Acting superintendent Mark Steele is the choice to lead the district going forward.
The Indian River School Board voted Monday to take the acting tag off Steele’s title.
He replaces Susan Bunting – who left the district earlier this year to become Delaware’s Secretary of Education under Gov. John Carney.
Steele has been with the district as a teacher and administrator since 1981. He was Indian River High School principal for 14 and-a-half years before becoming the district’s Assistant Superintendent in July 2013. He held that position until January when he became acting superintendent.
Steele helped the district pass a March tax referendum to add revenue to its operating budget. It was the second tax referendum attempt following a failed bid last November.
Despite the new funds, the district is examining $1.7 million in budget cuts for the coming school year, and may need to trim an additional $2 million if lawmakers enact Gov. Carney’s proposed state cuts to education.
“Despite the passage of the referendum, challenges still lie ahead due to proposed reductions in state funding for education. The administration and Board of Education are committed to addressing these budget cuts in a manner that has the least possible impact on classroom instruction. A variety of options will be considered in the coming weeks and months as we prepare the district’s budget for Fiscal Year 2018," said Steele in a statement. "Our parents and community members deserve this level of commitment and I look forward to working my hardest for the students of the Indian River School District.”
Steele was given a two-year contract running through June 2019.
