Despite announcing his retirement earlier this year, the Spring Hill School District Board of Education extended Superintendent Link Luttrell’s contract by another year, through June 2028.
The board approved two changes to Luttrell’s contract after exiting an executive session during the Dec. 8 meeting — the first amended his contract and the second extended it by a year. Both changes were approved 6-1 in separate measures. Board Member April Horne voted against both changes.
After the board took action last month, it seated three new board members.
Two of the board members who voted to extend Luttrell’s contract — Board President Nicole Melius and Board Member Keith Ewing — are no longer on the board. Board Member Sharon Mitchell, who also voted to extend Luttrell’s contract, did not run for re-election.
The board’s first meeting of the year with its newly elected members is set for 6 p.m. Monday, Jan. 12.
Luttrell had announced in October 2025 his retirement for June 2027.
Board Member Doug Hull, who voted to extend Luttrell’s contract, worried this move “could be perceived, I don’t know, like it’s coming out of left field at the end of the year, at the end of a term for our outgoing board members.”
However, the request for proposals process for a search firm to help the district find its next superintendent was “underwhelming,” Hull said.
“To hastily go back into that process again didn’t seem necessarily fair to the incoming, new board members,” he added. “Therefore, I approached Dr. Luttrell and subsequently brought him into the board, and he graciously agreed to put his personal plans on hold and give us another year to effectively buy us what is now two and a half years.”
Horne, the lone vote against extending Luttrell’s contract, called the measure “unprecedented.”
“On Oct. 13, we voted 7-0 to move forward with the new superintendent search,” Horne said. “Fifty-six days later is where we’re at [Dec. 8]. The same board makes an unprecedented change in procedure to vote to extend Dr. Luttrell’s contract, a vote that has typically taken place in spring time.”
Horne’s vote, she said, did not reflect her feelings toward Luttrell, but rather her feelings toward the process and vote itself.
“I believe that we should respect your announcement to end your contract,” Horne said, speaking to Luttrell. “I believe you trusted us with your future plans by giving us plenty of time to map out the future of our district and now we, as a board, are betraying that trust. Our voters, our staff of USD 230 and our students deserve consistent and fair leadership from their elected officials, whether on their first day of service or on their last. I do believe this is a breach of trust and I firmly oppose this vote.”
A day after the vote, Director of Communication and Engagement Scott Peavey emailed district staff about the board’s decision.
“Dr. Luttrell had previously planned to conclude his tenure at the end of his contract in June 2027; however, with three newly elected board members beginning service in January 2026, the board determined that providing an additional year of continuity would give the incoming full seven-member Board the necessary time to collaborate, align priorities and conduct a thoughtful, community-informed search process,” Peavey wrote. “A typical superintendent search often spans a year or longer when conducted with best practices.”
The email, a copy of which the Post obtained, can be read in its entirety below.
“Serving this wonderful and rapidly growing community since 2022 has been one of the greatest privileges of my career,” Luttrell said in his October announcement. “Together, we have pursued an aligned vision of enhancing USD 230 in all areas, always grounded in our commitment to Excellence Every Day. I remain fully dedicated to serving through June 2027 and confident this advance notice will provide the board and community with the time needed for a smooth transition.”
Hull hopes the school board will restart the search in July.
“This will also give Dr. Luttrell the opportunity to work on a succession plan that may ultimately help us in our endeavors to look for our new superintendent,” Hull said.
