A new leader will be needed to lead the break-up of the South Central Nebraska Unified School District 5. The Clay County News reported last week that Julie Otero, the former Julie Alexander of Superior, has submitted her resignation. She has served as superintendent of the unified district since 2018. It appears the current unification agreement will be allowed to expire in May of 2024.

Otero plans to leave the unified district on June 30, 2023.

Following Otero’s resignation, Laurie Kohmetscher, the unified board president and resident of Fairfield, presented two options. The board could hire an interim superintendent to guide the separation of the Sandy Creek and Lawrence-Nelson school districts or hire two superintendents, one for Sandy Creek and one for Lawrence-Nelson, A third option is for the separation to occur early.

After the issue was discussed, it appears the board will decide to hire an interim superintendent.

When first created, the unified district served five districts, Sandy Creek, Lawrence, Nelson, Superior and Guide Rock. However, problems with the unification surfaced early. Since the creation, the Lawrence and Nelson schools merged, the Clay Center district merged with Sandy Creek and the Guide Rock and Superior districts merged. The two southern districts, Guide Rock and Superior, were the first to withdraw from the unification.