By Bruce Lieberman
UNION-TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER
URL: http://signonsandiego.com/news/education/20080227-9999-1m27resign.html
February 27, 2008
DEL MAR – In a move that angered many teachers and parents, a bitterly divided Del Mar school board bought out Superintendent Tom Bishop's contract last night, ending his decade of leadership in the highly regarded elementary district.
The buyout, which will cost the Del Mar Union School District at least $287,000 and likely more than $300,000, ends a rocky relationship between Bishop and trustees Annette Easton, Katherine White and Steve McDowell. The three trustees had continually criticized Bishop on a number of issues since White ad McDowell were elected in fall 2006.
The vote to accept the buyout was 3-2, with trustees Janet Lamborghini and Linda Crawford dissenting.
More than 150 people attended the school board meeting last night, many angrily opposed to the majority vote. The three trustees had little to say, other than to express their desire to take the district in a new direction. Bishop did not attend.
Board President Easton said the board could not speak about personnel issues in public.
“This process has been extremely difficult,” she said. “One of the primary issues I ran on was transparency. . . . Unfortunately, this situation does not allow it.”
Crawford did say Bishop's departure was regrettable.
“Our district is world-class because of Tom Bishop and his staff,” she said. “This is a sad day for me.”
In the past, the board majority had criticized Bishop's management style, saying he was not open enough and did not seek consensus.
However, many teachers and parents said Bishop worked hard to inform them of decisions and enlisted their opinions about how to make schools better.
As a result, the district experienced rapid growth over the past decade, expanding from three to eight campuses while still improving academically. The district is one of the highest performing in the state.
Many speakers said the board's decision was reckless at a time when state budget cuts are looming.
“As we sit at the edge of near certain financial turmoil, I'm concerned that the board is fixing something that clearly isn't broken,” teacher Jennifer Jo Mokiao said.
According to the resignation agreement, the district will pay Bishop $287,851.86, equal to 18 months' salary.
The district also will pay health benefits through Oct. 31, 2009 – unless Bishop is hired elsewhere.
Other provisions allow Bishop to:
- Keep his district cell phone and laptop computer.
- Receive up to $10,000 for any attorney fees he incurred during negotiations to resign.
- Be paid for 3.6 days of vacation accrued between Feb. 29 and April 30.
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