March 29, 2024

C-M superintendent resigns after second OWI

Board to discuss interim leader June 30

COLFAX —The Colfax-Mingo Board of Education accepted the resignation of district superintendent Marty Lucas during a special meeting Monday, following a Thursday morning drunk driving arrest in Grundy Center.

Lucas, 61, of Charles City, was arrested and charged with OWI, second offense, during an 8:52 a.m. traffic stop by a Grundy County Sheriff’s deputy.

C-M school board president Skylar Rawlins spoke on behalf of the board Monday following a closed session discussion. He said he recommended the board accept Lucas’ resignation effective June 30. The motion passed in a 6-0 vote with only board member, B.J. Russell, absent. Lucas will be put on paid administrative leave until that date. The administrator will also be paid for his remaining vacation earned in the amount of $5,597.13. The superintendent was not present for the closed session or vote, and Lucas did not return a phone call Monday for comment.

In his statement, Rawlins and the board thanked Lucas for his service to the district and the Colfax and Mingo communities.

When asked if the board considered termination, Rawlins said, “we felt accepting (Lucas’) resignation was the best decision for the district.”

According to an initial criminal complaint from the Grundy County Courthouse, Lucas was observed by a witness and a sheriff’s deputy swerving between lanes while traveling northbound on County Road T29 toward Highway 175.

The officer reported Lucas failed field sobriety testing and was found to have a blood alcohol content of .224 by a data master test at the Grundy County Jail.

Lucas had recently announced his retirement from C-M, scheduled for the end of the 2015-16 school year. The board hired the Omaha-based search firm McPherson & Jacobson, LLC in April to begin the process of replacing Lucas.

Directly following Monday’s closed session, the board met with McPherson & Jacobson consultant Dave Stoakes who will look for possible interim superintendent candidates to fill Lucas’ spot as the board continues what’s expected to be a year-long search for a permanent replacement. Stoakes said he has already been in contact with two recently retired superintendents who are interested in stepping in on a part-time basis to guide C-M through the transition. The board will meet with Stoakes June 30 to discuss interim selection and compensation.

Thursday’s arrest is not the first time drinking has disrupted Lucas’ professional career. According to online court records, Lucas pleaded guilt to an OWI charge in August 2008 in Benton County for a Feb. 28, 2008, auto accident while he was superintendent of Bettendorf Community Schools.

Bettendorf Communication Director Celeste Miller said Monday that Lucas resigned as superintendent from the eastern Iowa school district in a “mutual agreement” with the school board July 23, 2008. The negotiations with Bettendorf leaders coincided with Lucas’ OWI charge.

The Mason City Globe Gazette also reported in 2008, that Lucas had a prior alcohol-related charge in 1999 while he was the top administrator for the Charles City Community School District. Lucas was not penalized by the school for the 1999 OWI, the newspaper reported.

Lucas was hired as C-M superintendent in 2011. His contract was renewed March 18, 2014, at an annual total compensation package worth $158,503.30 during the 2014-15 school year. The contract showed a scheduled bump to $168,003 for the current school year.

The administrator has led the district through difficult financial decisions during his tenure, including the closing of the C-M Middle School facility in Mingo. Lucas also led a failed bid to hire a private custodial service for the school district, has overseen implementation of C-M’s 1-to-1 student computer program and began steps in April for a facilities upgrade.

Contact Mike Mendenhall at mmendenhall@jaspercountytribune.com