FISHERS, Ind. — The Hamilton Southeastern Board of School Trustees accepted the resignation of Superintendent Dr. Yvonne Stokes at a special Wednesday morning meeting.

During the approximately 20-minute proceedings, members of the board accepted Stokes’ separation agreement and appointed Dr. Matt Kegley as the interim superintendent.

Wednesday’s special meeting included brief comments from constituents voicing their support for Stokes and lamenting her resignation.

According to counsel for HSE, representatives for Stokes approached the district about two weeks ago about her resignation. This led to a separation agreement; Stokes’ resignation is effective immediately.

In a unanimous 7-0 vote, the board accepted the separation agreement. In a separate but related vote, the board also unanimously approved the appointment of Kegley as interim superintendent.

As part of her separation agreement, Stokes will receive the full amount remaining on her contract, which was set to run through June 2024. She will also receive compensation for her remaining time off, the board said. The separation agreement included mutual non-disparagement clauses; both sides also agreed not to file lawsuits.

The district appointed Stokes as the district’s superintendent in July 2021 as the replacement for Dr. Allan Bourff. Kegley has been with the district since 2006, when he joined HSE as an assistant high school principal. He became assistant superintendent in January 2021.

The district is laying the groundwork for a “comprehensive search” for a permanent superintendent.

The board is next scheduled to meet on Sept. 19 at 7 p.m.