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The search for a new superintendent has begun for the Lomega school district.

The school’s board of education accepted the resignation of Steve Shiever during a special meeting on March 16.

Shiever, in his sixth year at Lomega, has accepted the superintendent’s position at Pond Creek-Hunter.

“I’m proud of our six years here,” Shiever said. “But Pond Creek-Hunter is also a very good school district. They do a lot there to support teachers and students and I wanted a new challenge and to be a part of it.

“It’s also an excellent opportunity for me to increase my retirement.” A Dover High School graduate, Shiever is in his 28th year of education.

A majority of his teaching career was spent in Alva. He was a boys basketball coach there for 10 years and spent nine years as an elementary principal before succeeding the retiring Karen Castonguay at Lomega.

During his tenure, Lomega has made numerous facilities upgrades.

Most notable was the passing of a $15.4 million bond issue in February 2019 that allowed for the construction of a new high school and a remodel of the elementary’s gym.

The district is currently adding on to its FFA facility, has purchased an ag farm and did a major overhaul of its baseball facility.

“We made a lot of tremendous improvements to our facilities,” Shiever said.

“And I believe we’ve gotten stronger academically as well.”

The district received A’s across the board on the latest School Report Card from the state Department of Education. The ACT average is among the best in the state.

Shiever was named the 2022 District 3 Superintendent of the Year by the Oklahoma Association of School Administrators. The district covers Blaine, Grant, Garfield, Kingfisher and Logan counties.

“We’ve had great faculty and great students here,” Shiever said. “I’ve really loved my time here.”

Shiever will take over at Pond Creek-Hunter on July 1.

In the meantime, the look for his successor has commenced at Lomega.

The job was posted on Monday and the application process closes April 3.

“We’re very proud of the current state of the staff and the improved facilities at our school system,” said Justin Glazier, president of Lomega’s board of education.

“We feel we’ve got a lot to offer as an employer.”

In the meantime, Glazier offered gratitude toward Shiever.

“He’s done a lot of great things for the school district,” Glazier said. “I want to thank him for his time here and wish him nothing but success and the very best at Pond Creek-Hunter.”