Southwestern Consolidated Schools has a new interim superintendent.

Walter Bourke was approved Wednesday night as interim superintendent for the remainder of the 2023-2024 school calendar. Bourke’s hiring allows Southwestern Junior/Senior High School principal John Tindall to return to his main duties. Tindall served as interim superintendent since Nov. 8 when superintendent Joshua Edwards was placed on administrative leave.

Edwards’ letter of resignation was accepted at the school board meeting Dec. 13. The school system plans an exhaustive search to find its next superintendent.

Bourke, a Bloomington native who currently lives in southeast Marion County, has been retired for two years following a seven-year stint at Indiana University as Clinical Assistant Professor of Educational Leadership. Prior to that, he was the superintendent of the Franklin Township community school corporation. He also has been in administrative positions in Lawrence Township and Mt. Vernon (Fortville).

“A friend of mine was communicating with the board about helping search for the next superintendent and they indicated they wanted an interim (superintendent) and I thought it would be a pretty good fit for me,” said Bourke, who was in attendance at Wednesday’s special school board meeting.

A veteran educator that has worked in several large school corporations, Bourke is excited for the short-term opportunity in a much smaller school setting.

“It is small. I was talking to my wife and told her I think that is going to be part of the joy of doing this job, is being part of a small, close-knit community,” said Bourke. “I actually can’t wait for the (Shelby County) basketball tournament (hosted by Southwestern) in January.”

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