West Platte superintendent Dr. John Rinehart announced his retirement late last month, effective at the end of the school year.
Rinehart came to the district in 2015 after the district and community went through a ‘cooling off period’ following the resignation of superintendent Dr. Jerrod Wheeler, who ruffled many feathers after the quiet tenure of superintendent Kyle Stephenson. During that period, two local retired superintendents held the reins at West Platte – North Platte super Dr. Francis Moran and former West Platte and Platte County R-3 superintendent Dr. Mark Harpst.
Harpst stayed on as a part-time special projects manager during the district’s extensive construction projects. Rinehart and Harpst will work together to help the district to select Rinehart’s replacement.
In a letter to the board, Rinehart thanked them for their wisdom and guidance and said he would always remain available for any service.
“Over the years we have transformed large areas of the physical plant,” Rinehart said in the letter. “We have installed a top-shelf administrative team. We have strengthened our certified and support staff. Our kids have routinely accomplished academic and co-curricular wonders. We operated fully to the extent possible during the pandemic and managed to thrive as a result. West Platte is often recognized among the best schools of the area, if not all of Missouri.”