W. Thomas McNeel, West Virginia’s state superintendent for the past six years, resigned Dec. 28. He announced that he would take early retirement on June 30, after completing a six-month contract to head a local school district.
West Virginia’s early-retirement law, aimed at reducing educational-employment levels in the wake of declining student enrollment, has been used by more than 30 state education officials, including the deputy superintendent.
Mr. McNeel, 48, had been under fire from the state board because of alleged marital infidelity, according to press reports. He will take a substantial cut in pay as superintendent of the Raleigh County system.
Meanwhile, State Superintendent Verne A. Duncan of Oregon has disclosed plans to resign next fall to become dean of the University of Portland’s school of education.
Mr. Duncan, who was first elected to the post in 1975, will be leaving the job midway through his fourth term. Gov. Neil Goldschmidt will appoint someone to serve out the remainder of Mr. Duncan’s term, which ends in 1991.--nm
