DARLINGTON — In an announcement May 3, Darlington Community School District notified the public that Superintendent Denise Wellnitz agreed to an arrangement with the board of education and will retire as superintendent at the end of the school year.

The revelation comes on the heels of a vote by the board at its meeting April 15 not to renew Wellnitz’s contract, which ends June 2020. Four members of the board, Judy Huntington, Teresa Siegenthaler, Joe Riechers and School Board President Aaron Wolfe, were against the suggestion not to renew the contract. However, R.J. Brunkow, Matt Crist, Colleen Reichling, Joe Schilling and Nicholas Zuberbuhler were the deciding votes not to renew it. 

No reason was given for non-renewal during the meeting and has not been provided since the proceeding.

Wolfe said prior to the statement released by the board that administrator reviews are conducted in January. He said the board was informed by Wellnitz in person, as well as in a letter, that she planned to retire at the end of the school year. He declined to say whether a replacement superintendent was being sought. 

The board of education has been hosting a number of special meetings on the subject, with a majority of the proceeding held in closed session with little explanation during open session discussion.

During one such meeting April 25, the board spent more than an hour discussing the sole main agenda item, which called for members to consider data on the district administrator. According to meeting minutes, Wellnitz was not present for the meeting. 

During open session, they voted unanimously to accept the retirement of Wellnitz, effective June 2020. No members spoke outside the meeting, instead noting that a press release would be sent within two weeks’ time.

Another special meeting was held May 2. Again, the sole item of discussion was closed session consideration of employment or performance evaluation data of a public employee. Though the meeting spanned nearly two hours, no decisions were made. However, two men were present during the meeting who were present for closed session discussion. Darlington High School Principal Aaron Lancaster, who escorted the individuals in and out of the meeting, said he was unsure who they were or which organization they represented, only that they were present to aid the board in its endeavor to begin a search for a new superintendent. 

Wolfe refused to identify the two men present during the meeting, nor their purpose for attending, noting that a press release would be distributed. At its May 6 meeting, the board voted unanimously to approve a contract with the Wisconsin Association of School Boards for a superintendent search.

Wellnitz did not return multiple calls requesting comment on her retirement.

In a personal statement sent in an email with the press release, Wolfe expressed gratitude for Wellnitz’ contributions to aid in the achievement of the district and said he was eager to work alongside others within the community and district staff in a search for the next superintendent.

— Kayla Barnes contributed reporting.