Shenandoah school resignation prompts concerns

Caleb Amick, The Herald Bulletin, Anderson, Ind.
·2 min read

Jul. 16—MIDDLETOWN — The resignation of Scott Trennepohl as school board president of the Shenandoah School Corp. surprised several district officials and residents.

Trennepohl cited personal reasons for his decision to depart after 23 years on the board.

Applications are being accepted for his replacement, with plans to make an appointment at the board's regular monthly meeting on Aug. 12.

Some residents believe that the November 2024 election will be affected.

"Mr. Trennepohl's term would have been up for reelection in fall of 2024 and several people have already begun the process to run for his seat," Ashley Grounds, a local parent, said in an email.

"Now, the superintendent intends to fill it until 2026 by taking applications and picking the applicant on his own without consulting the public or allowing a fair election process to take place."

Superintendent Kyle Barrentine said the school board will appoint Trennepohl's replacement, not him.

"Anyone who meets the eligibility requirements can apply for the position," Barrentine said in an email.

The replacement will serve the remainder of Trennepohl's term, which ends Dec. 31, 2025.

The person elected in November will assume the position in January 2026.

District officials cited a staggered seating plan in which the newly-elected school board member will start at a later date than others.

School districts are legally allowed to set start dates for newly-elected board members, according to a candidate manual from the Indiana Association of School Boards.

However, an elected individual must take office within 14 months after the election.

Trennepohl said the staggered system was in place when he was first elected more than two decades ago.

"It's been around for forever," he said.

A total of five candidates are running for the board's three open seats. They are: Cameron McIlrath, Katie Simpson, Kristoffer Gray, Justin Helman and Dameon Wyatt.

Follow Caleb Amick on Twitter @AmickCaleb. Contact him at caleb.amick@heraldbulletin.com or 765-648-4254.