Wessington Springs superintendent back at work following DUIs

WESSINGTON SPRINGS — Wessington Springs School Superintendent Lance Witte is back at work after the school board placed him on administrative leave last month following two drunken driving arrests.

In a statement Witte posted on the Wessington Springs School District’s website under the Spartan Spotlight section, Witte said this:

“Wessington Springs School Board decided to remove me from administrative leave and to be reinstated as Superintendent and Secondary Principal.

“The Board will be amending my contract along with some other actions to come in the future.

“I am humbled and thankful to the Board of Education for their support going forward as I know it was a difficult decision in the best interest of the School District with the wreckage I have created and am responsible for.”

In the statement, Witte also said he spoke with students early last week about his absence “both legally and related to the disease of alcoholism.”

The Wessington Springs Board of Education appointed Dan Guericke of Mid-Central Education Co-op as interim superintendent during Witte’s leave.

Witte was arrested for driving under the influence in August in Hanson County.

The arrest came just three days after he pleaded guilty to driving with a license that was revoked following a DUI conviction in December.

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