Former superintendent and longtime district employee Paul Grube agreed Sunday to take on the interim superintendent role at Sweetwater County School District No. 1.
The move comes nearly a week after the school board voted unanimously to place Superintendent Joseph Libby on paid administrative leave and eliminated the assistant superintendent position.
“I’ll be honest with you, I never thought I’d be here,” Grube said, addressing the audience of about 30 people at Sunday’s special board meeting to appoint an interim leader.
Grube will serve in the position until June 30, 2027 — about nine months.
No one on the board said anything about why the assistant superintendent position was eliminated, why Libby was placed on paid administrative leave or whether Libby would continue to be on paid administrative leave with the interim superintendent starting immediately.
Special Meeting
The board members met at 2 p.m. Sunday and went directly into executive session, where they remained for about an hour and 20 minutes.
When they returned, they voted to bring on Grube.
The meeting was not livestreamed, but one of the estimated 30 people there — including parents, district staff and former school board members — posted video from the special meeting online.
School Board Chair Cole Wright said Grube will help “restore calm and restore a forward-facing direction” for the school district.
He pointed to upcoming elections, saying, “We have the opportunity to have a pretty new board from all walks of life.”
Along with the turnover at the top of the district’s administration, four school board members have resigned within the past year.
In a Sunday announcement announcing Grube's appointment, district praised his “deep familiarity with Sweetwater County School District No. 1.”
“In selecting an interim superintendent, the Board focused on finding an experienced leader who could step into the role immediately, provide continuity for students and staff and keep the District’s current work moving forward,” the statement says.
A Familiar Face
Grube is no stranger to the school district.
He began his career with the district as a teacher and coach at Rock Springs High School, where he spent 18 years. He later served as an associate principal at RSHS and as the district’s human resources director before becoming superintendent.
He served nine years as superintendent before retiring in 2013.
Grube has remained connected to the district since his retirement.
“When I did see what had occurred, I didn’t really know what they were going to do,” Grube said at Sunday’s meeting, referring to last week’s board action.
He said he visited with people in the community who wondered who would be willing to take on the superintendent’s job under the circumstances.
“I did say I’d be willing to help,” he said. “It was time for me to get back. I got so much from the school district.”
Wright said Grube’s familiarity with the district was a major factor in the decision and that, “Paul knows this District, our schools, our staff and our community."
Wright also pointed to Grube’s relationships throughout Wyoming as an asset as the district moves forward.
At Sunday’s meeting, the board said it was looking for an experienced leader who could step into the position immediately, provide continuity for students and staff and keep the district’s current work moving forward.
'Restore Calm'
The board did not publicly explain the reasons behind last week’s decision to place Libby on paid administrative leave or eliminate Bolton’s position.
Wright reiterated to Cowboy State Daily in a text message Sunday that he could not answer questions about personnel matters.
"The District will share any additional information as it's available and as confidentiality permits," he said.
The district has been dealing with months of controversy and scrutiny, including questions surrounding personnel decisions, communication, public comment and special education practices.
The Wyoming Department of Education released findings earlier this year that determined the district was out of compliance in four of five major areas reviewed in a special-education investigation.
The findings included problems with staffing, implementation of students’ individualized education programs and parent participation in the special-education process.
The district disputed the findings and sought reconsideration.
The district has also faced criticism from parents and community members over its handling of personnel matters and communication.
The school board itself has experienced turnover.
Matt Gardner resigned from the board last week, becoming the fourth trustee to leave in less than a year following the departures of Cole Seppie, Anjelica Wood and Chad Franks.
Last week’s decision to place Libby on leave and eliminate the assistant superintendent position came after an executive session that lasted nearly 2 1/2 hours.
A Rock Springs police officer was also called to the meeting to assist with keeping the peace during the executive session, according to police.
The board has said it cannot publicly discuss confidential personnel matters.
“Administrative leave is not, by itself, a disciplinary determination,” Wright said last week.
Former Board Members React
Former school board members who attended or commented on Sunday’s meeting said they view Grube’s appointment as significant because of his history with the district.
“He knows the district and cares about the community and knows Wyoming education, Wyoming law,” former board member and district parent Kari Cochran told Cowboy State Daily. “I think that will be beneficial and hugely impactful as we navigate the challenges.”
Seppie, who resigned from the school board last year after being publicly censured, said he’s encouraged that the board selected someone from outside the current administration.
“It signals that they are at least concerned with the current direction of the district as a whole and not just with Joe (Libby) and Nicole (Bolton),” Seppie told Cowboy State DAily.
Seppie said Grube’s institutional knowledge could be valuable as the district examines its administration and operations.
“I hope to see he uses his insights to really examine the rest of the district and administration,” Seppie said. “The staff and students deserve a district that cares for them instead of the retaliation which has occurred.”
What Happens To Bolton?
Bolton’s future within the district also remains unclear.
While her assistant superintendent job was eliminated, the district also said Bolton would remain an employee and be reassigned to another position.
As of Sunday, the board had not publicly identified Bolton’s new position or explained why the assistant superintendent position was eliminated.
Bolton’s contract was unanimously approved by the board in May, after some parents had publicly criticized the administration.
At that meeting, parent Cherell O’Driscoll asked that Bolton’s contract not be renewed. Wright stopped the comment because district policy prohibits public comments about individual employees.
The district says it's now revising its public-comment policy, another issue that has generated debate at recent meetings.
A New Chapter
For Grube, returning to the district he spent much of his career serving is not something he expected.
But he said he believes his experience can be useful during a difficult transition.
“I’m glad to do whatever I can to help this district grow,” he said.
Kate Meadows can be reached at kate@cowboystatedaily.com.
