The Perry School Board of Education accepted boys head basketball coach Ned Menke’s resignation last night just moments after approving plans to move forward with Menke and Joel Martin  to co-principal at the elementary school starting this fall.

As first reported on Raccoon Valley Radio, Menke broke the news to his team last Friday after the Iowa Assessments test were completed, but had informed the administrators of his plan more than a week ago.  Menke told RVR that it was strictly a family and professional decision.  With the new duties of co-principal emerging along with the desire to spend more time at home with his family, Menke ultimately made the decision to step away from the bench and begin a new career path as an administrator.

Both Menke and Martin broke down responsibilities of their new position based on areas and grades.  Martin said in many ways, he and Menke have been partnering together together already in their current positions of associate principal and dean of students. Board President Kyle Baxter stated that his initial fear was that “when you have two people in charge, no one is in charge” and worried that things would be overlooked.  He asked Menke and Martin to keep that in mind moving forward. The co-principal positions were approved by the Board later in the meeting.

Perry will immediately begin a search to find Menke’s replacement.