Tim Kuehl to retire as shared superintendent

AFTON - With the adoption of an early retirement policy, East Union and Murray Schools Superintendent Tim Kuehl said he will be retiring from his shared position at the end of the school year. Both districts will be searching for a superintendent to fill the shared position.

The policy was adopted Monday and allows for qualified school administrators, including Kuehl, to retire at the end of the 2025-26 school year. Kuehl said the policy had been discussed for a couple years and the policy’s adoption was not in response to any specific event.

Kuehl has served as superintendent for East Union since 2021, replacing Ken Kasper. He accepted a shared position with Murray’s school district. When he leaves at the end of his contract, Kuehl will have served five years with East Union and Murray.

The early retirement policy allows for other administrators of East Union to receive early retirement incentives after meeting two qualifications. An administrator would need to be 55 or older and have served the district for five or more years in order to receive these benefits.

Elementary Principal Joan Gordon and Early Childhood Center Director Peggy Hardy both qualify under the qualifications, although neither have taken action.

In other East Union news...

Following the approval of the district’s at-risk/dropout prevention plan in October, the district approved submitting their annual request to the School Budget Review Committee for supplemental aid totaling $177,653 for the 2026-27 prevention program.

“These funds will support the implementation of the plan,” Superintendent Tim Kuehl said. “We do counselor salaries and shared social workers. We pay out of that. It supports at-risk students.”

The following contracts were approved:

Clarissa McCollough, wrestling cheer coach; Zach Clear, junior high wrestling coach.