After weeks of investigations by the United South Central School District into the personal conduct of Superintendent Frank Lorentz, the superintendent has decided to resign. The school will not take disciplinary action against Lorentz, but a criminal investigation into his conduct is still underway, according to Faribault County Attorney Brian Roverud.

&uot;Under current conditions, I find that it is no longer beneficial to USC or myself professionally or personally to continue my current employment relationship with the USC School District,&uot; Lorentz wrote to the district board last week. &uot;As you know, USC is facing several daunting challenges in the coming months and would be better served by a different leadership team.&uot;

A mutual release of all claims taken by the board and the superintendent was signed by both district board chairman Pat Staloch and Lorentz, meaning that neither side may pursue any charges against each other for &uot;any act or thing occurring prior to or concurrent with this date (Nov. 25).&uot;

Faribault County authorities have said they can’t discuss their investigation into Lorentz until it is complete, but Roverud confirmed this morning that despite the school board’s decision not to take disciplinary action, the county investigation continues.

Knutson, Flynn and Deans PA, the law firm that conducted a board-sponsored investigation of allegations against Lorentz, recommended that the board take no disciplinary action in the case, board members said.

School board members did not comment on whether no disciplinary action was taken due to the resignation or because the investigation’s findings exonerated Lorentz.

&uot;I won’t comment on that,&uot; school board member Mary Thrond said.

Lorentz, who says he’s innocent, decided the investigation was becoming too much of a distraction, he said.

&uot;I was afraid people were starting to lose focus on the education process,&uot;

Lorentz said from his parents’ home in Arizona. &uot;It was a very difficult decision, it’s what I feel to be the best decision.&uot;

&uot;The important thing was that there was no disciplinary action. To me that says the most. I think its very unfortunate that some people choose to react on rumor instead of fact.&uot;

Lorentz will be on a leave of absence from the district until Jan. 31, when he will resign.

&uot;I think it was beneficial for the district because we can move forward,&uot; Thrond said. &uot;I did have phone calls from the public &045; concerns over the direction that the board was going to take.&uot;

Relations between the superintendent and the public had been strained through many difficult issues, including a failed bond referendum, building issues, and, this fall, tense negotiations between the teachers union and the district. The sides narrowly averted a strike.

&uot;These issues have polarized people and drawn us apart,&uot; Staloch said. &uot;We have to go forward. We have to get back to what we do best and that is educating.&uot;

The district will begin searching for a new superintendent. The administrative staff will be taking care of the duties of the superintendent position until the Minnesota School Boards Association will try to find a temporary replacement, according to Staloch.

Lorentz says he plans to stay in the education field.