As the Davis School District works to stop racism, it also will be looking for a new leader at the end of the school year.
That’s when Reid Newey, the district’s superintendent, plans to retire, according to a Wednesday announcement.
Newey notified district and school administrators of his intent in an email, stating, “I have thoroughly enjoyed my time as superintendent of Davis School District.” He was appointed by the district’s board of education and began serving on Dec. 1, 2016. The last day of the district’s academic calendar is May 27.
The announcement came a day after the district late Tuesday announced a new partnership aimed at identifying strategies to reduce discrimination throughout the county. The new partnership followed a scathing federal report released in October that documented and condemned discrimination and harassment in Davis County schools.
[Read more: ‘We have to talk about racism,’ Davis County leader urges residents, after scathing report about schools]
In the report, the Department of Justice said the school district created an atmosphere that was so oppressive that students of color feared coming to class. Many stopped reporting acts of discrimination after teachers who witnessed them did not step in, the report said.
In November, Davis School District also launched an independent investigation of the district’s handling of critical issues including bullying after 10-year-old Isabella “Izzy” Tichenor died by suicide on Nov. 6. Tichenor’s mother, Brittany Tichenor-Cox said she had reached out to the district several times to talk about how her daughter was being treated by her classmates and her teacher for being Black and autistic, but the abuse was allowed to continue without intervention.
In a statement released Wednesday, the district’s board of education thanked Newey, stating, “He has led DSD through some of the most challenging times education has ever faced.”
“Superintendent Newey has worked tirelessly to help our district improve in every area of education. We wish him well in his retirement,” the statement continued.
The school board will meet to plan a search for a new superintendent.
