Shelbyville Central Schools board accepts Finkel's resignation

David Finkel is no longer a member of the Shelbyville Central Schools board.

Finkel’s resignation was accepted Thursday morning at a special session meeting at the administration building.

“He has filed the proper paperwork and it has been certified,” confirmed SCS board president Michael Turner after the meeting.

Finkel (photo), a prominently visible resident in the community as a long-standing school board member and director of the Strand Theatre, was served a federal search warrant by the FBI seven days ago. The FBI has not confirmed the cause for the search warrant.

Items were seized from the Finkel’s residence on Broadway but no charges have been filed and no arrests have been made in conjunction with the search warrant.

As an elected official to the school board, Finkel could not be fired by the board or simply resign. He had to file resignation paperwork with the local court system. The board could then accept his resignation, as it did Thursday with little fanfare.

“There was a request for him to do it, but he did it on his own,” said Turner. “We can’t do it for him since he is an elected official. We can make the request, but it was on him to file the paperwork to get it done.”

“There was some communication there that he intended to do that,” said SCS superintendent Dr. Matt Vance. “He couldn’t come to us; he had to go to the clerk because he is an elected official.”

Finkel’s seat on the SCS board must be filled within 30 days. The school system has started the process to find his replacement.

Finkel was the vice-president of the board. That position will now be filled by Amanda Bunton. He also was the board’s representative on the Blue River Career Programs board. Andrea Lee was appointed to that position.

Applications for the school board opening are due June 20, according to Vance.

“We have 30 days from the time he submitted his letter to fill it,” said Vance.

The school system has reiterated that the search warrant is a personal issue for Finkel and has nothing to do with the school board or the school system. He has been on the school board for nearly two decades.

“For many, many years he was a board member and worked alongside these people for many years,” said Turner, who works for the Shelbyville Police Department. “I think shocked is probably the best word. Now we have to rely on the justice system to do their job wherever this leads. Any time you have a part of your team that is going through something like this is difficult for everybody.

“Not only does is unfortunately bring a negative light upon the board and the organization itself, but each individual board member feels that pain and that stress. It will be good to appoint a new board member and move on.”

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