In a letter filed Thursday in the Monroe County Clerk’s Office at the courthouse in Waterloo, Regional Superintendent of Schools Kelton Davis submitted his official notification of retirement effective June 30. 

“As I am unable to legally serve as Regional Superintendent of Schools for Monroe and Randolph counties while retired under the Teacher Retirement System, I am vacating the position with exactly two years remaining on the term,” his notice states.

Davis won his latest elected term in 2022 while running unopposed as a Republican. 

Davis has served as Regional Superintendent of Schools for Monroe and Randolph counties since 2012. Prior to that, he served as assistant superintendent under Regional Superintendent Marc Kiehna until his retirement.

When contacted about his impending retirement, Davis said he preferred to withhold comment until closer to his official departure date.

Since there are less than 28 months until Davis’ elected term expires, Illinois state statute allows a replacement to be appointed by a committee of the chairman of the represented counties. 

The statute also states the chairmen are entitled to one vote for each party committeeman vote in the most recent election, a process Monroe County State’s Attorney Ryan Webb likened to an “electoral vote.” 

With Davis running unopposed in 2022 and from Monroe County, only having two counties being represented and Monroe County having more committeemen votes than Randolph County, Monroe County Board Chairman George Green could technically make a unilateral appointment.

However, Monroe County Republican Central Committee Chairman Ed McLean told the Republic-Times on Tuesday he suggested the two county board chairmen agree on an appointment of Davis’ successor, adding both Green and Randolph County Board Chairman Dave Holder plan to work together in finding his replacement.

“We’ve agreed to work together using the necessary procedures so that both counties have the right person for the job,” McLean said, adding they will be looking for a candidate who will be looking to run for the position in the next election. 

McLean added he was surprised by Davis’ retirement announcement. 

Per the Illinois Association of Regional Superintendents of Schools,  a regional superintendent is the chief administrative officer of a Regional Office of Education and the only elected education professional office in the state. 

“ROEs are essential support offices partnering with the Illinois State Board of Education to support local school districts,” the IARSS website states. “As an intermediate agency between the Illinois State Board of Education and local school districts, the office of the Regional Superintendent performs regulatory functions as directed by the Illinois School Code.”