The Anderson Community Schools Board of Trustees has formally approved a contract to make Jeremy Coleman the district’s next superintendent.
During a special meeting Monday evening, the board voted 6-1 to approve a three-year contract for Coleman, beginning July 1, 2027 and running through June 30, 2030. Coleman’s salary will be $175,000 annually, and a satisfactory evaluation of his performance in the first year could result in a 3% raise in 2028. Positive evaluations in 2028 and 2029 could mean escalating, one-time bonuses that would not be built into his base salary.
The lone dissent came from Robert “Buckie” Bookhart, who during the voice vote said he would explain his decision after the vote was finalized. Bookhart later said the meeting was adjourned before he could speak about his vote. He said he would outline his reasoning at the next board meeting.
The board also voted 6-1 to approve a three-month contract for Coleman to work in tandem with outgoing superintendent Joe Cronk. The contract will be effective from April 1 through June 30; Coleman will officially take the reins from Cronk beginning July 1.
Bookhart also voted no on that contract.
Coleman said he is excited to begin the position and looking forward to the transition.
“I just feel welcomed,” Coleman said. “Everybody I’ve talked to, from the board, to staff, to the community, people are excited about what’s coming for Anderson, what’s happening in Anderson and what will be the future. I just can’t tell you how encouraging it is for me, as a new person, to come in and just feel welcomed in that way.”
Coleman is currently an assistant clinical professor and superintendent of University Schools at Ball State University. His career has included stints as a corrections officer, a mentor working inside Indianapolis Public Schools, a teacher, an assistant principal and a lead principal.
ACS Board President Mandy Webb said the board listened to staff members and the community about what they would want in a superintendent. She said she believes Coleman fits those descriptions.
“I am extremely excited to officially bring Dr. Coleman into the ACS community,” Webb said. “I am very proud of this board. We have worked hard and come together in trying to find the best candidate. All of the feedback we’ve gotten, we’ve taken extremely seriously, and that’s what we used to put on the applications and that’s what we used to make our interview questions. Dr. Coleman, by far, checked all the boxes.”
During its Oct. 19 meeting, the board recommended Coleman to take over the leadership role after Cronk retires June 30, 2027.
After that meeting, Coleman said his first goal as the district’s next superintendent would be to “emphasize the ‘community’ in Anderson Community Schools” by building relationships, “from the central office, to school leaders, to teachers, to custodians, to food service, to families and to the community and community partners.”
Coleman said he’s excited to meet with the district’s students and get to know students, faculty and staff members better at each building.
This article appeared in The Herald Bulletin.