Broken Arrow Schools Announces New Interim Superintendent

Tuesday, a new interim superintendent took over Broken Arrow Schools, but the district won’t answer any questions about the departure of the previous superintendent.

The district said Tuesday’s news conference was to talk about the future and not dwell on the past, something both leaders and the Chamber of Commerce agree with.

Right off the bat, representatives with the Chamber of Commerce, who hosted the announcement, decided to answer the public's most pressing question by avoiding it.

12/8/2016 Related Story: Broken Arrow Public Schools And Superintendent Dr. Jarod Mendenhall Part Ways

"We are here today to discuss the future, we are not here to discuss or comment on the reason Dr. Mendenhall chose to leave the district or anything about the agreement between Dr. Mendenhall and the board of education," said Wes Smithwick with the Broken Arrow Chamber of Commerce.

The district did, however, introduce interim superintendent, Dr. Janet Dunlop.

Dunlop served under Mendenhall as associate superintendent for six years and was recently named deputy superintendent of assessment and accountability at the Oklahoma State Department of Education.

"I know that we are going to continue to move forward in extremely positive ways with our city government and our chamber," Dunlop said.

We asked Dunlop if the district will eventually address why there was such an abrupt transition.

Erin: “A lot of parents want to know what happened to Dr. Mendenhall, is the district ever going to address that?
Dunlop: “I understand the question and I appreciate that, but the purpose of today is really to talk about how we're moving forward as a district. I'm looking forward to that. And as far as Dr. Mendenhall, he has publicly stated that he's had opportunities in education."
News On 6: “You mentioned that today's not the day to answer questions about Dr. Mendenhall, well, when is the time? When can you, when will you guys address the answers? Will you guys address the answers?"
Dunlop: “Well, again, I think those are questions I'm not prepared to talk about, I wasn't here, I was at the state department."

Dunlop said she will be leaving her position at the state level while she serves in Broken Arrow.