Whitko Superintendent Tim Pivarnik resigns unexpectedly

By David Slone
Times-Union

LARWILL — Tim Pivarnik is out as the superintendent at Whitko Community Schools.
At a special session Wednesday lasting less than 3 minutes, the Whitko School Board unanimously accepted Pivarnik’s resignation, effective immediately.

The board also approved the appointment of Director of Special Services Kari Walmer as lead administrator until such time an interim superintendent is found. Board President Annette Arnold said they hope to find an interim superintendent within the next week or so.
With no further discussion on Pivarnik’s resignation, the board adjourned the meeting.

In a statement provided after the special session, Arnold said, “We appreciate the positive programs and projects initiated during Mr. Pivarnik’s time at Whitko.”

It did not cite a reason for Pivarnik’s resignation.

According to a June 2, 2021, Times-Union article, he has an education specialist degree from Indiana Wesleyan University and master’s and bachelor’s degrees in secondary education from Indiana University Northwest.

He was assistant superintendent of the Diocese of Gary, Merrillville, from 2017 to 2020; American School president – principal in Lansing, Ill., from 2015 to 2017; Gary Middle College principal, Gary, from 2012 to 2015; Calumet High School principal, Gary, from 2009 to 2012; assistant principal at Griffith Junior Senior High School, Griffith, from 2006 to 2008; and an economics and government teacher at Portage High School, Portage, from 1998 to 2006.

The superintendent’s contract approved back in 2021 was effective from July 1 to June 30, 2024, according to the Times-Union article.