Jeremy Duncan said hiring someone with Western Wayne Schools Superintendent Andy Stover’s experience is “invaluable.”
Duncan, who’s superintendent of Fayette County School Corp., said his district couldn’t ask for more in a candidate to become its chief operating officer.
The Connersville-based school district hired Stover at its Tuesday, April 8, board meeting.
“We will work well together, and he will fit in really well,” Duncan told WWN. “I have great confidence in Andy’s abilities to do the work, and I’m excited to get him on board.”
Stover replaces Randy Harris, FCSC’s director of operations, who is retiring at the end of the school year.
In his new role, Stover will oversee finance, human resources and general operations, such as transportation, buildings and grounds.
Stover, now 36, was 31 when WWS hired him for his first superintendent role.
Stover came to Cambridge City after serving as assistant superintendent of Randolph Eastern School Corp. in Union City, where he honed his grant-writing skills.
Duncan said he looks forward to using Stover’s talents in finding outside money to help students. When school districts face potential budget cuts through property tax reform and declining enrollments, those skills are even more important, Duncan said.
FCSC’s statement announcing Stover’s hire noted, “He has brought innovative thinking, chased creative funding, and provided great opportunities for kids to grow and thrive.”
During his time at WWS, Stover has served on boards for county and regional organizations impacting local students such as East Central Special Services, Whitewater Career Center, for which he’s served as president, and Boys & Girls Clubs of Wayne County, where he’s a committee chair.
Although Duncan hasn’t yet worked directly with Stover, their Randolph County families are well acquainted, and they’ve worked at nearby schools. Duncan was a principal at Willard Elementary in Winchester for nine years before becoming superintendent of South Henry School Corp. in Lewisville and then joining Fayette County.
Community members have raised concerns about the possibility of Stover’s departure in recent weeks. A resident’s petition at change.org has gathered 319 signatures to show school board members that they support Stover “and the great job he does for our kids!”
At the conclusion of WWS’ approximately three-hour March 12 board meeting that drew many students, parents and community members, Stover said many stakeholders are working for the good of the school district, but others hold things back with disagreements.
“What we do have is a division in this district,” Stover said. “I don’t know what it is.”
Stover noted issues with his relationship with the board, saying he’d been pulled back time and time again on decisions and hadn’t been given free rein to be a superintendent.
Stover had not responded to WWN’s requests for comment about his new position before press time, and board members did not respond to WWN’s inquiries before news of Stover’s departure became official.
Stover is the second district administrator to depart WWS within a few weeks. At the March 12 meeting, WWS’ board approved the resignation of Chad Lieberman, director of titles and grants, effective June 30.
During that meeting, Lieberman said he’d reported employee and board member misconduct he has witnessed to various officials, and felt he had no options left but to resign.
Lieberman said he recorded and provided his findings to Stover but said some board members had prevented Stover from acting.
Lieberman thanked Stover for the opportunity to work alongside and learn from him, calling him a “knowledgeable, passionate and competent superintendent.”
A version of this article will appear in the April 16 2025 print edition of the Western Wayne News.