Magdalena superintendent Dr. B resigns

After two months at the helm as superintendent of Magdalena Schools, Dr. George Bickert has resigned.

“I’m very disappointed that we couldn’t get on the same page and make improving educational opportunities and outcomes for our students our primary objective,” Bickert wrote in an email to the EDC.

In the resignation letter received through a public information request by the EDC, Bickert said after deep reflection following the executive session at the Sept. 15 meeting he felt he wasn’t the right person to continue as superintendent and tendered his resignation effective immediately.

Although he didn’t offer specific names he noted inappropriate behavior by a group of adults contributing his decision to departure.

“I thank you for the opportunity to serve the students of this community; however, given that encouraging, supporting, protecting, and rewarding inappropriate and unprofessional behavior by a group of adults is of higher priority than student achievement, I believe that it is best for the District to choose another person to be superintendent.” Bickert’s resignation letter said.

He released the board of any buyout or future compensation outside of a final payout of days worked, said the letter. He also offered support to the board president and school administrators.

The school board held a special meeting on Monday to choose an interim superintendent following Bickert’s resignation.

After an hour of executive session, Board President Lynn Major said the new interim superintendent would be Magdalena High School Principal Chris Backstrom and that he would receive $300 per day in addition to his regular salary.

This motion passed unanimously by the board.

School Board President Lynn Major declined to comment on the resignation at this time.

In January of this year, the Magdalena school board voted in a split decision not to renew Superintendent Dr. Glenn Haven’s contract. In March, the board held a work session on the hiring process which included a community survey. After a meet and greet with the top candidates on April 22, the Magdalena School board unanimously voted to offer Dr. George Bickert, a former Ruidoso Municipal School superintendent, a two-year contract for $150,000 per year.

The Magdalena School Board will hold a Special Meeting on Thursday, Oct. 9 at 1 p.m. in the Fine Arts Center.