MARYSVILLE – Shirley Hodgson, Marysville School District’s human resources director, has been placed on paid administrative leave pending an investigation into her job performance.
Superintendent Larry Nyland said he made the move Sept. 27. Her contract, which expires June 30, pays a $102,073 annual salary.
“Out of fairness to Shirley, since this is a personnel matter, we need to let the process work itself out before there is any conclusion,” Nyland said.
Hodgson left her job as human resources director in the Everett School District to join Marysville in 1991. She could not be reached for comment.
Nyland outlined his concerns in a letter to Hodgson, saying she was being investigated for “recent personnel actions which may be grounds for disciplinary action and/or an act of unprofessional conduct.”
It also said the district is surveying staff about the clarity of procedures and communications from Hodgson’s office and how she has treated them.
Nyland took over the district in July. In March, former Superintendent Linda Whitehead and the Marysville School Board reached a $340,000 buyout of Whitehead’s contract after her leadership abilities were challenged.
In early September, Nyland asked for feedback on what the district needed to do to improve. Fifteen out of 31 people responding to a survey indicated that improved procedures, communication and relationships with the human resources department should be a priority.
John Fotheringham, a school management consultant, said he hopes to have a report ready for Nyland early next week.
Hodgson came under criticism from the school board in December after she gathered together eight educational assistants to discuss transferring them.
At the time, school board President Vicki Gates said: “The manner in which this meeting was conducted and the way in which these (educational assistants) were instructed to choose their new assignments was humiliating and disrespectful. While this may have been acceptable in the past, this board will not tolerate this type of behavior toward our staff.”
The board approved a motion requiring Hodgson to apologize. Eventually, Whitehead and Hodgson did apologize, according to school board minutes.
Elaine Hanson, former president of the Marysville Education Association, said she had a good working relationship with Hodgson.
“When I went to her with different situations, I usually found her supportive of me and teachers’ positions,” she said. “We have a number of grievances we worked with. I felt Shirley had been fair, but sometimes not as speedy on things as I would have liked.”
Reporter Eric Stevick: 425-339-3446 or stevick@heraldnet.com.
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