MARYSVILLE – The Marysville School Board has raised the possibility it could end its contract with Superintendent Linda Whitehead Wednesday.
The board has called a special meeting for 5 p.m. Wednesday at district headquarters to discuss Whitehead’s contract in executive session.
In a revised agenda sent today, it also listed “possible personnel action” to follow the discussion on the superintendent’s contract.
The board has met behind closed doors several times in recent weeks, including Monday night, to talk about Whitehead’s contract.
The possibility of a buyout was raised in January but the board has been tight-lipped about the negotiations for her departure. Board president Vicki Gates said she had no comment after the Monday executive session and could not be reached for comment today.
Whitehead has 21/2 years left on a $130,876-a-year contract that was extended for a third year in November. The vote to extend her contract was controversial – one of the last actions taken by a former school board that was voted out of office in November.
New board members Vicki Gates, Carol Jason and Michael Kundu questioned the effectiveness of the district’s top leadership during their election campaigns. All were critical of the state record 49-day teachers’ strike last fall, which they said was a performance failure on the part of Whitehead and her administration.
Board members Ron Young and Helen Mount have remained steadfastly in Whitehead’s corner, saying she had worked hard to bring financial stability to the district while focusing on student achievement.
Young said he could not discuss the closed door talks.
On the agenda item listing “possible personnel action” after the executive session, he said, “It gives them the option of being able to do it,” referring to the possibility of ending Whitehead’s contract.
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