JANESVILLE, Wis. -- As one area school district was cheering on its football team Friday, people were also talking about one of its leaders that has decided to step away at the end of the school year.

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Janesville schools Superintendent Tom Evert announced he is stepping down.

The announcement came Friday afternoon, after months of conversation between Evert and school board president DuWayne Severson.

Evert has been superintendent in Janesville for the past 14 years.

Board members said his lasting legacy could be the school district's involvement with the Studer Group, a consulting firm that has worked exclusively in health care, now working with the Janesville schools to improve the district through innovative organization and management.

In Evert's successor, the board will look for someone who follows the same principles, laid out by the Studer group.

"The most objective is to find the right person for our district at this time, an individual who embraces the Studer principles. We hope to have the individual named by March of next year," said Severson.

"I, personally, would be looking for someone perhaps within the district. We're open to the nation, but I would be open to someone from our own district to step up," said Bill Sodemann, school board vice president.

In all, Evert has spent 38 years in education.

Some board members hope his experience is still available, possibly as a consultant, once he retires.

Severson said the search for a new superintendent will begin quickly.