MUSD Superintendent Steve Chestnut. Photo by Devin Carson

The 2017-18 school year will be the last for Superintendent Steve Chestnut at Maricopa Unified School District, school officials said Thursday.

Human Resources Director Tom Beckett said the school board voted unanimously Wednesday evening to approve Chestnut’s current contract through June 30 and “not to move forward with any future contracts.”

The decision was motioned by board member Torri Anderson and seconded by board member Gary Miller.

Late Wednesday evening, the board convened in a private session with its lawyer to discuss Chestnut’s current contract and another that would have run through 2020.

The reason behind the board’s decision to toss the lengthier contract could have something to do with its superintendent’s professional desire to manage a larger district.

Anderson said the board learned last week Chestnut is a finalist for a superintendent position with Gilbert Public Schools – a sizeable district with 40 schools.

According to the district’s website, GPS closed its superintendent search Aug. 16 and will hold a community forum with final candidates Sept. 19. A representative with the Arizona School Boards Association, and Chestnut himself, confirmed he is one of four finalists for the Gilbert position.

Anderson said MUSD’s own search for a superintendent does not have a timeframe yet as the board awaits those details from its legal counsel.

She said there are no hard feelings between the board and Chestnut, adding the board supports his professional goals.

“As a board we felt that we wanted to do what was best for our staff and students, and it’s a tough decision to make, but as a board I was pleased to see that we unanimously voted for the motion,” Anderson said.

Chestnut was a finalist for the same position at Deer Valley Unified School District in May, but stayed with MUSD after the latter district hired a different candidate.

In an interview with Chestnut soon after, he said he was “not actively seeking another job.” Around that time, however, the position in Gilbert opened.