Superintendent of Brownsburg Schools abruptly retires

The long-time superintendent of the Brownsburg Community Schools announced his sudden retirement, effective Monday, amid a disagreement with the elected school board. Jim Snapp led the high performing suburban school district since 2010.

The Brownsburg School Board said in a statement they worked several months to address issues relating to “administrative concerns” in Snapp’s role as superintendent.

The Board and Snapp recently met to discuss these issues and Snapp made the decision to retire, according to the statement.

“The decision to retire at this time in my life has been an extremely difficult one – but I am confident this is the right time for me to step down,” Snapp said in a statement sent to staff and families. “I thank the Board of Trustees for their support over the last 14 years. It has been the joy of my professional life to lead the school corporation that did so much for me as a student many years ago.”

Two administrators were named as acting superintendents: Kat Jessup, Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction, and Shane Hacker, Assistant Superintendent for Operations.

Brownsburg schools have been under scrutiny in the last year when five staff members were charged with neglect or failure to report neglect after a 7-year-old special education student was told to eat his own vomit.

The Hendricks County district enrolls around 10,000 students, of which 60 percent are White. The 2023 graduation rate for Brownsburg High School was 99 precent.

Snapp’s departure comes nearly two weeks after the surprise retirement of another Central Indiana school leader — Center Grove Schools Superintendent Rich Arkanoff. The district board said they are working with the state law enforcement to investigate allegations related to Arkanoff’s time off and reimbursement tracking.

Contact WFYI Marion County education reporter Sydney Dauphinais at sdauphinais@wfyi.org.