Superintendent Who Took Sick Student to Doctor Resigns

An Indiana school superintendent who was arrested after using her insurance to get medical treatment and meds for a sick student has resigned. Elwood Community Schools Superintendent Casey Smitherman provided the IndyStar with a statement explaining her decision was fueled in part by the "negative attention" she and her community have gotten since taking the 15-year-old boy to be treated for strep throat on Jan. 9 and using her son's insurance. The bill for the doctor's visit and antibiotic was $233, and she was charged with insurance fraud and Identity deception.

She described herself as "very embarrassed" by that attention and said, "I sincerely hope this single lapse in judgement does not tarnish all of the good work I've done for students over the span of my career." The board had been supportive of Smitherman initially, but were expected to hold a vote on Smitherman on Friday. However, WTHR reports the vote was not held because she resigned Friday. Smitherman was placed into a diversion program, meaning she doesn't have to plead guilty, won't have a record as a result of this incident, and can have the charges dismissed if she isn't arrested again over the next year. (More superintendent stories.)