No. 9: Superintendent, city manager resign, officials search for replacements

By NewsPress Now

St. Joseph will welcome two new leaders in 2025 after the city manager and school superintendent both announced plans to leave their positions last year.

City Manager Bryan Carter announced plans to return to a job in the private sector in August, after serving in the role since January 2021 following the resignation of then-city manager Gary Edwards. Carter’s resignation took effect on Sept. 6, and the St. Joseph City Council launched a search for his replacement, ultimately narrowing down the field to four finalists who came to St. Joseph for interviews and to meet the community in December.

With just two weeks remaining in the year, officials announced Mike Schumacher as St. Joseph’s new city manager. He most recently served as city administrator in Lebanon, Missouri, and before that, he was an assistant city manager in Kansas City.

Pending the execution of a contract by the City Council on Jan. 6, Schumacher’s first day with the city will be Jan. 21. His salary will be $190,000.

Gabe Edgar, superintendent of the St. Joseph School District, also announced in the summer of 2024 that he plans to step down from his job. Edgar will retire at the end of the 2024-25 school year.

After a nationwide search, the Board of Education announced its four finalists for superintendent on Dec. 16. Two of the candidates were current district employees, with a third having previously worked in the St. Joseph schools.

The school board announced its selection of current Assistant Superintendent of Academic Services Ashly McGinnis as the district’s next leader on Dec. 18.