By Patrick Crowley and Karen Gutierrez
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Campbell County Schools Superintendent Roger Brady, whose decisions to demote a principal and replace four high school coaches stirred protests in recent months, confirmed Tuesday he is considering leaving the district.

Brady has two years remaining on a contract that pays him about $107,000 a year. His family lives in West Virginia, and he recently moved out of a condominium in Cold Spring because the rent had gone up and his lease was about to expire, he said.

Reached at the cabin he owns in West Virginia, Brady said: "I'm on vacation. I haven't resigned. I haven't retired. I'm still the superintendent. That's not to say that will be the case when I get back. I'm thinking about doing some different things, but I haven't made any decisions."

Brady has been superintendent in Campbell County since 1998. He had previously served as an assistant superintendent in the Boone County School District.

This year, he drew fire for demoting Ann Painter, principal of A.J. Jolly Elementary School, after Painter spoke against closing the school.

Painter has applied for her old job back, setting up a possible showdown between the superintendent and Jolly's site-based council, comprising three teachers and two parents. Based on a recent ruling by Kentucky's Court of Appeals, site-based councils can appoint principals who are not on their superintendent's list of recommended candidates. That decision has been appealed to the Kentucky Supreme Court.

In May, the Campbell County School District experienced more turmoil when four coaches at Campbell County High School were told, at Brady's direction, that they would have to reapply for their jobs. At the time, Brady said, all staff members with extracurricular contracts, not just coaches, were being asked to do so.

Football coach Mike Corson, basketball coach Dan Sullivan, baseball coach Geoff Besecker and soccer coach James Wilbers were subsequently replaced.

Parents and students reacted furiously at a school board meeting in late May. They complained about lack of communication regarding the changes as well as bad timing. In some cases, summer practice schedules had already been established when the coaches were told they might not return.

Parent Gerry Hitch said Tuesday that he and other parents have talked about forming a group that would keep tabs on school district business by attending meetings, reviewing public records and talking with board members.

E-mail pcrowley@enquirer.com and kgutierrez@enquirer.com