Published: May 09, 2008 11:37 am            

Superintendent leaving Morrison Public Schools

Dennis Casey, superintendent of Morrison schools, is leaving after eight years in the position.

Casey has accepted a position with the state CareerTech Department as a regional administrator. The Morrison Board of Education accepted Casey’s resignation Wednesday.

“That was one of the more difficult things for me to do, to put my board … in such a predicament,” Casey said Thursday.

Casey said he was initially hired after his college graduation. After 11 years, during which he served as a football coach, teacher and principal, he left for seven years. When he returned eight years ago, it was as superintendent.

“Morrison is kind of like home,” Casey said. “(The school district) took two risks. They hired a 21-year-old out of college and then they hired a person with zero experience as a superintendent. It makes it pretty tough, it’s not like just walking away from any old job.”

One factor that helped Casey in his decision is that he won’t need to leave Morrison. With CareerTech, he will serve as liaison between CareerTech and common schools in the northcentral and northeastern parts of the state.

While he will be expected to show up in the Stillwater office at times, he also will be able to work from home much of the time.

Casey’s contract officially ends June 30. The school board is conducting a search for his replacement.

“With the facilities we have here, with our test scores, it’s a pretty attractive job,” Casey said. “We’ve got an awful good group of people here.”

        

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