Galatia to search for new superintendent

</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[Galatia school board Thursday accepted the retirement of Superintendent Kirk Abernathy effective June 30.

Abernathy, of Macomb, has served the district for two years. He said he plans to return to Macomb and may check into teaching opportunities at the junior college there where he taught in the past or "may do nothing at all."

Abernathy said his time in Galatia has been good and is satisfied with some of the adjustments he made that put the district on a good path financially. While most rural school districts are tightening their belts out of concern for shortfalls in state funding, Abernathy said Galatia is actually about $150,000 ahead of where it was this time last year. He said part of the financial health came from an investment of $25,000 he made that paid off.

Teachers also received the largest raise this this school year they have seen in eight years, Abernathy said.

The state in January borrowed money to pay its bills and Galatia has received some of the money owed with $9,596 for special education transportation, $16,298 for special education personnel, $35,321 for transportation and $9,142 for early childhood.

The board rehired elementary school Principal Beth Rister for next year.

n DeNeal receives e-mail at bdeneal@yourclearwave.com.