Manchester Community Schools superintendent resigns; employee alleges verbal sexual harassment

Manchester Community Schools announced that Superintendent Tony Castle has stepped down after the board read a statement saying he "acknowledged the situation" and chose to resign. The board approved hiring an external search firm, Administrative Assistants, to lead a superintendent search expected to take about 90 days, and formally appointed Dr. Stevens as interim superintendent and financial manager under a short interim contract. The board approved the search‑firm contract and the interim appointment by recorded votes (motions carried unanimously).

Why it matters: The resignation and public allegation came during a regularly scheduled board meeting and prompted the district to commit to a formal search and an interim leadership arrangement during the transition. The sequence also raised staff concerns about internal reporting options for harassment.

At the meeting, the board read a statement saying Mr. Castle "acknowledged the situation immediately with regret" and accepted the board's initial disciplinary recommendation before choosing to resign. The board approved engaging Administrative Assistants to conduct the search and said the firm would begin work promptly with a goal of having a new superintendent in place by mid‑July. The board also approved a roughly 45‑day interim contract for Dr. Stevens to serve three days per week as interim superintendent while remaining the district's financial officer; the motion to appoint Dr. Stevens passed unanimously.

During the public‑comment portion, Manchester Intermediate School employee Joetta Harmon described an incident on March 25 that she said amounted to verbal sexual harassment by the superintendent. Harmon said the incident created a hostile work environment, that she had been left unsure where to report during spring break, and urged the district to create clear, accessible reporting resources for employees who experience harassment. "That is what happened to me March 25th," Harmon said. "It was not a joke and it was serious."

Harmon told the board she had met with administrators and appreciated that some district staff listened, but she said she wanted stronger systems so others would know where to go if harassed. She also said the superintendent had been on unpaid leave and that she had considered resigning because of the incident.

The board did not announce findings from an investigation during the meeting. The district statement the board read indicated Mr. Castle had acknowledged the matter and that the board had begun a search for his replacement. The board said it would follow up on next steps and procedure for hiring a permanent superintendent.

What happens next: The board authorized a 90‑day search process with Administrative Assistants and appointed Dr. Stevens as interim. The district said it expects to have candidates to interview in coming weeks and to name a permanent superintendent before the start of the school year. The district did not provide details of any investigatory timeline or personnel actions beyond the resignation and interim appointment.