Oneida superintendent Rich Moore to retire in June

MALAD — Oneida School District Superintendent Rich Moore will retire at the end of this school year.

Moore confirmed his plans in an email to EdNews Tuesday.

Moore has been superintendent of the rural Southeast Idaho District for five years, overseeing the creation and dizzying growth of what has become the state’s largest online school, Idaho Home Learning Academy.

IHLA’s expansion represents a “rewarding highlight” of his time at the district, Moore told EdNews. “I feel with the program, we have helped families, who have made the choice to school at home, have access to certified teachers and quality curriculum.”

This school year alone, IHLA added more than 4,500 new students, accounted for some $15.4 million earmarked for the district and will payout up to $16 million to for-profit companies that help run the program.

The growth and influx of students and tax dollars recently attracted attention from top state leaders. In November, State Board President Debbie Critchfield asked State Superintendent Sherri Ybarra to take a closer look at IHLA’s explosive growth.

Moore told EdNews that his plan to retire is not associated with the online school.

“I told the Board when they hired me that I would promise them five years,” he said.

Moore, who turns 65 in September, plans to do “some part-time work after retiring, but nothing has yet been defined or aligned.”

“I need to meet with the retirement people to determine retirement eligibility,” he added.

Moore worked for five years as a superintendent in Livingston, Mont., before joining Oneida. He worked in education for 31 years in Utah before that, finishing his career there as an assistant superintendent in the Ogden City School District.

His last day at Oneida is set for June 30, 2021.

This article was originally posted on IdahoEdNews.org on December 23, 2020