Hancock County Superintendent’s Contract Not Renewed

Photo by Craig Howell

NEW CUMBERLAND - The search is on for new leadership in the Hancock County School District.

During a special meeting Wednesday night, the Hancock County Board of Education voted 4-1 to begin looking for a new superintendent of schools, with a term to begin July 1.

The individual selected will replace current Superintendent Dawn Petrovich, whose contract ends June 30.

"We appreciate everything that Ms. Petrovich has done for the Hancock County School System throughout her career. We would like to thank her for the last four years that she provided us with that service," school board President Chris Gillette said following the meeting. "We have decided to go in a different direction, and our search will begin tomorrow."

Gillette indicated, with guidance from legal counsel, the board will begin looking internally for a new superintendent first, and, if a candidate is not found, then look outside of the school district.

"We're going to have to meet again, find out as a board what we're looking for, and what direction we want to go," Gillette said. "So hopefully, everything goes real smooth here and our search will be positive and we'll find a candidate that everybody's agreeable to."

Board member Larry Shaw cast the lone vote against the search.

The decision followed a 55-minute executive session involving Petrovich, all members of the board and the board's legal counsel.

Gillette confirmed Petrovich will remain with the district through June 30.

"She's here until her contract is up," he said.

Petrovich was first selected as Hancock County's superintendent of schools in 2019, signing on to a four-year contract.

Prior to being named superintendent, she served as assistant superintendent of schools under the previous two superintendents, has served as county test coordinator, principal at Broadview Elementary and assistant principal at Weir Middle and Allison Elementary.

Wednesday's meeting followed the board's regular meeting on Feb. 27, during which time an almost-four-hour closed door session was held as part of Petrovich's annual superintendent assessment. At the time, the board noted members were "pleased with the progress on some goals," but acknowledged there was work remaining on other goals.