Sad Days in Wentzville

UPDATE

The Wentzville School District Board of Education has agreed to hire former Orchard Farm Superintendent Ed Katcher to act as interim superintendent while they seek a full-time, permanent replacement for Tom Byrnes.

Katcher, who retired from Orchard Farm in 2003, is a great choice to fill this position at this time. Not only are most of his educational roots here in St. Charles County, having served both the Orchard Farm and Fort Zumwalt districts, but he is a no-nonsense kind of guy, who will keep the focus of the school district in the right direction.

It's unfortunate that Katcher, in his retirement, is limited to 550 hours per year of educational work. He would make a great choice to be a permanent replacement, if he chose to un-retire.

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Just when you thought things looked good in the Wentzville School District, under the new leadership of Superintendent Tom Byrnes, we find out that there is something terribly wrong that has been hidden deep inside this quiet, gentle man.

This past week, he was arrested after having a restraining order sought against him by a district employee who he had allegedly offered money for sex, the community is going through all sorts of emotions.

Anger, fear, disappointment and all the rest are being publicized in the small community.

Coming off of reports that the school district was going to ride out the financial storm it was in for the next two years without asking voters for a tax increase, this news is a devastating blow.

Apparently, Byrnes became sooooo consumed by this woman that he offered to pay her $200 cash per week for sex. Fearing going to school district officials, she went to police. After filing for the restraining order, police wired her in expectation for his pending visit. He shows up at her house and has in his car various sexual devices. The golden words are uttered (money for sex) and police move in and place him under arrest for soliciting prostitution.

For all involved, this is a horribly sad case. All the trust that has been rebuilt in the district by this administrative team is instantly torn down. Let's hope the district can close this chapter quickly and rebuild quickly, with little disruption for the kids.

Now, it is up to the school board to hire an interim, and eventually a permanent superintendent. Dan O'Donnell, are you paying attention??