MUSD Superintendent Steve Chestnut. Photo by Devin Carson

Current Superintendent Steve Chestnut could leave Maricopa Unified School District as soon as March 9. The board previously approved his contract through July 1, but his new employers at Scottsdale Unified School District want him sooner.

The board will meet in executive session March 7 at 5 p.m. to discuss those changes in his contract.

Chestnut will begin at SUSD March 12 or 19 amid district-level controversy and lawsuit surrounding its officials.

The SUSD Governing Board placed Superintendent Denise Birdwell on administrative leave in February for an alleged conflict of interest scandal. The district approved administrator Amy Fuller as acting superintendent in a late-night Tuesday meeting.

Chestnut acknowledged SUSD has “a lot of challenges” but is looking forward to the professional opportunity.

“I have loved my five-and-a-half years in Maricopa, I love this community and it’s bittersweet,” Chestnut said.

If Chestnut’s early departure is approved, he will leave behind a brief vacancy in office. The board is expected to offer a contract to a new superintendent March 26.

Board President AnnaMarie Knorr said Chestnut “has split up his duties among the cabinet” to fill the possible two-week leadership gap. Knorr said the board would have a formal statement on the issue after its meeting March 7.



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