Still No Word on Southern Door Superintendent Leave

Southern Door School Superintendent Chris Peterson is shown in this July 2022 file photo shortly after he started in his new position. He was hired after the previous superintendent, Patti Vickman, retired. Peterson led the district through successful building and operational referenda in November 2022. He came from the Howards Grove School District northwest of Sheboygan. File photo by Craig Sterrett.

The Southern Door School District Board emerged from a second closed session April 3 without any information about why Superintendent Chris Peterson remained on leave or a time frame for the public disclosure and outcome of the situation.

“At this point, there is nothing new to report,” said board president Penny Price in answer to email inquiries from the Peninsula Pulse following the April 3 meeting. “Mr. Peterson continues to be on leave. This is a pending personnel matter, and as such, further comment is not appropriate at this time. Albeit the school board is not able to comment on any specifics concerning this situation at this time, the school board remains committed to doing what is best for the district. During Mr. Peterson’s absence, business manager Jason Melotte continues to assume responsibility for day-to-day district operations.”

The public was alerted to Peterson’s leave March 16, when the school board went into a special meeting in closed session to consider his “employment and performance data as well as social or personal history or disciplinary data of the district administrator which, if discussed in public, would be likely to have a substantial adverse effect upon the reputation of the district administrator.”