Pocatello/Chubbuck superintendent to step down

Pocatello/Chubbuck School Superintendent Mary Vagner is retiring.

School Board Chairwoman Janie Gebhardt said Vagner submitted her letter of retirement to the school board Tuesday.

Last year, Vagner took a lot of heat for firing Pocatello High School girl’s basketball coach Laraine Cook over a Facebook photo that was deemed inappropriate. Cook was later re-instated.

Vagner’s retirement will be effective after June.

Below is the email she sent out this week:

Dear Staff Members:

It is with mixed feelings that I submitted my letter of retirement to the Board of Trustees, at their meeting last night, effective June 30, 2015. I have had the privilege of working with the best administrative team and staff in the state of Idaho and with a great Board of Trustees. I believe the retirement date is right for the District and right for me. I submitted my retirement notice early to give the Board time to find a replacement within the normal hiring season for superintendents, which is generally the month of February.

I am proud to be the Superintendent of the Pocatello/Chubbuck School District and to have worked with such quality people. You are a great team and I appreciate the great work you do every day.

Sincerely,

Mary Vagner