The Triad Schools Board of Education accepted superintendent Chris Piper’s resignation Thursday as he prepares to lead a new district.
Piper said as of Monday, he’s accepted the position of Troy City Schools Superintendent. His last day at Triad is July 31.
At Thursday’s board meeting, he thanked members for their support of him during his four years at the district
“Triad is an amazing place, and I appreciate your trust and faith in me,” he said. “Hopefully I’ve done a good job along the way.”
In an interview this morning, Piper said the Troy position was simply an opportunity he decided to take. He said while the change is bittersweet, he’s excited to become a part of the Troy community.
“I’ve hear nothing but great things,” he said.
Among his proudest achievements at Triad, according to him, is fostering a place that values education. Students at the district have maintained high scores, and the schools have maintained good relationships with Champaign County businesses to offer internships.
“We’re really growing kids here,” he said.
Piper said he and his staff have done, “Some really, really great things here.”
“It’s difficult to leave that behind,” he said.
Going forward, Piper hopes the district continues its emphasis on getting higher-level AP courses and other advanced opportunities within reach for students. He said the district has already begun working them in, though he’d like to see that initiative ramped up.
As for his replacement, Piper said the process to hire a new superintendent is in its earliest stages. The board has opened the search, and will be looking for the next few weeks.
He said someone should be hired by the end of the school year.
Thursday’s meeting also saw an update on Triads bus debacle.
The district’s bus troubles go back much earlier in the school year. At the board’s meeting in December, Piper told members the district was in the process of hiring new drivers. Two more drivers were being trained to bring the bus fleet back up to the district’s full 10 vehicles. An agreement had also been sorted out between the other Champaign County school district to have two drivers to be shared around the county.
Since then, one of those three new drivers was unable to complete the required test, and the two drivers to be shared between districts are just now getting the certification process finished.
“It just continues to be a problem,” he said.
At Thursday’s meeting, Piper acknowledged that this school year had been “frustrating” for parents.
“Of course they’re frustrated, we are too,” Piper said. “But I do appreciate their patience.”
One driver recently returned from a medical leave, which Piper said “helped out.” There’s another driver who will take the driver’s test Wednesday.
“Fingers crossed, they should be driving by Thursday afternoon,” he said. “There is hope on the horizon, it’s coming.”
Piper said this morning that the certification process for bus drivers is long. This year’s bus troubles, he said, have been a perfect storm.
“It takes so long to get them on the road,” he said. “It literally takes months.”
Board President Chris Millice expressed appreciation for the drivers who have picked up the slack. Piper agreed.
“You know, it does sound a bit chaotic when you listen to the radio chatter,” Piper said. “But the bottom line is that kids are getting home safely, nobody’s getting left behind on a bus.”