How much is it worth it for the new Wake County school board majority to get rid of Superintendent Del Burns before June 30?
As noted in today's article, the board majority says it wants to work with him through the end of June 30. But there's another option available.
In Burns' contract, there's a provision that says that once he submits written notice of resignation the board can unilaterally choose to terminate him immediately. (The contract I've posted is the original from 2006 but school board attorney Ann Majestic said the language is still there.)
By terminating him now, the board would owe Burns his salary through June 30 and pay for any unused state accrued annual leave. I don't know how much leave Burns has got, but we're looking at around $68,000 in salary.
Normally, the board would have to pay Burns 18 months worth of salary if they wanted to buy his contract out early. That's worth $409,500.
But the buyout option was waived once Burns submitted his notice on Tuesday.
The board could also try to fire him for cause but it would be expensive and messy.
The board could also waive the requirement that Burns has to give 90 days notice to avoid a $30,000 penalty. But Burns said he wants to stay through June 30. Plus, would he want to leave early and not take the four months salary and pay from annual leave he could get in return?
Another option proposed Thursday by the Wake Schools Community Alliance was to reassign Burns and hire an active superintendent.
Now, the board could continue to work with Burns through June 30.
But Burns made it very clear in several media interviews on Thursday that he's opposed to the policies of the board majority.
The criticism caused school board member John Tedesco, who was designated the main spokesman Thursday by Ron Margiotta, to warn that Burns could face insubordination charges if he can't work effectively with the majority.
“If he basically can’t perform the duties of his job, it either becomes inadequate job performance or insubordination or something that needs to be dealt with at another level,” said Tedesco in the article. “We hope that doesn’t happen. I have great respect for him as a person.”
Now school board member Keith Sutton warned that the board minority would try to block any personnel action against Burns.
"That’s not going to happen,” Sutton said of the prospect of personnel action. “Del Burns has served this system with distinction and honor and integrity. To think that that we would treat him with any less than that in terms of respect is ridiculous and preposterous.”
Comments
Totally Disagree!
Fri, 02/19/2010 - 15:14 — JanisTangoI didn't list everything people are unhappy about, but there are educational aspects people are complaining about too. For example, after the EOGS, why do schools have movie days for the kids that passed. The kids that didn't passed have to be worked with to be retested. I'm appalled that my son spent one whole month last year doing very little in regards to education after he passed his EOGs on the first try. That is just one example of things that need to change. That was a waste of a month of learning time in my opinion.
"I'm appalled that my son
Fri, 02/19/2010 - 15:40 — user12345"I'm appalled that my son spent one whole month last year doing very little in regards to education after he passed his EOGs on the first try. "
The public asked for testing and accountablity and you got it ... the system is totally focused on the test ... that is the only goal now ...
this needs discussion too...
Fri, 02/19/2010 - 15:23 — JSBinNCI have heard about this stuff happening post EOG. This is our first year with EOG testing... maybe someone else out there can help us - but aren't the EOG dates set by the state, or a window of dates... something, then the individual counties can work within those windows? - And - has there been any modification to the dates since the calendar law went into effect? Like - did it used to be that the testing window made more sense when school was out at the end of May... but now - not so much when the kids are in til June 9... or 10!! ???
I just wondered - I over heard some others talking about this - I didn't realize the state set the testing window. I recall when we were in YR - holy moley - those kids I think on track 4... they came back from track out and had to write the tests like a day later or something? And then - nothing else really mattered for the next 8 weeks - because there testing was already done??
Something is messed up with this setup... If *somebody* somewhere says that kids need 180 days AND 1000 hours of instruction per year - but that goes to heck in a handbasket post EOG testing?? What gives??
Our experience is that in
Fri, 02/19/2010 - 16:31 — jenmanOur experience is that in pretty much every grade of elem school, the last week was a complete waste of time. Lots of movies, one day is usually a 'read in' where kids bring pillows, books, magazines & snacks. They literally read the entire day.
The first year the calendar changed, we passed up an awesome vacation opportunity because it happened the first week of June. We felt bad that our kids would miss an entire week of school, but we quickly realized that they wouldn't have missed a thing.
"Board member John Tedesco,
Fri, 02/19/2010 - 08:57 — shank56"Board member John Tedesco, designated by the majority to respond to Burns, said the district's chief of day-to-day operations might not last until June 30, his announced last day. "
Wonder why Chair Ron didn't speak for the BOE. He is the one who works day to day with Burns. Ron has aleady said he had a good working relationship with he Super.
I think it is a good move to
Fri, 02/19/2010 - 09:31 — red_balloonI think it is a good move to have Tedesco be the spokesperson for this mess. With Dr. Burns' ill-timed display of a rebellious streak, Margiotta needs to get more involved with the day to day operations until a new supdt. is appointed.
I thnk they use John to do
Fri, 02/19/2010 - 09:27 — user12345I thnk they use John to do all teh dirty work ... like the lawyer stuff ... Ron probably just tells him what to say and do ..
From what I have seen from
Fri, 02/19/2010 - 14:38 — Duhhuh666From what I have seen from Tedesco, he doesnt need anyone to tell him what to say. He quite capable of speaking for himself.
I suppose you can seek to
Fri, 02/19/2010 - 09:44 — red_balloonI suppose you can seek to belittle Tedesco. Personally, I like it that Tedesco is embracing any challenge that comes his way. It builds his skills and credibility while underlining his resolve to tackle the tougher problems.
I don't know if the other BOE members are equally engaged. Perhaps they are but they do so while staying out of the news. I check Goldman's blog often but it is yet to serve as a vehicle to communicate her independent thinking.
I hope Keung gives us more visibility into what other BOE members are doing (or not doing).
I am amazed that Dr. Burns'
Fri, 02/19/2010 - 07:59 — red_balloonI am amazed that Dr. Burns' sense of professionalism deserted him so quickly after a change in leadership and when his ideals and actions were challenged.
Are you kidding? A lesser
Fri, 02/19/2010 - 08:54 — allkidsfirstAre you kidding? A lesser man would have made the board buy out his contract, or spend the really BIG bucks on a bid to fire him for cause. (Which, in a district where more than 90 percent of parents are happy, and four board members support him, would have been rough at best.)
Dr. Burns' jobs as
Fri, 02/19/2010 - 09:36 — Eric_BDr. Burns' jobs as superintendent is to implement the policies of the board. Either he can carry out those policies, he can resign or retire or he can be fired for not carrying out his duties. I don't see any way he could have demanded a contract buy out.
As for the "90% of parents are happy" statement, that was on a calendar survey and was in response to how satisfied parents are with their current school. It says a lot about the high quality principals and teachers we have in WCPSS, but says nothing about the operation of the district as a whole or policies put in place and implemented by the board and central services.
Have you ever stopped to think that if 90+% of parents are satisfied or very satisfied with their current school that they may not look kindly on being reassigned? Maybe they just want to be left alone in their current school to allow some stability and for their children to get an education instead of having to worry about being shuffled around every year to make nearby schools "comparable" to balance the socioeconomic composition of area schools.
another comment on 90%
Fri, 02/19/2010 - 09:44 — loriacI put satisfied on my survey - my older son is in high school, and I believe he is getting an excellent education, has great teachers, the principal is doing a good job, etc. However - I didn't get a survey for my younger son, who we pulled out of WCPSS after the last reassignment.
I am not satisifed w/ the previous board's policies that resulted in that last reassigment, conversion of the middle school to YR, etc.
So - count me as one of the unsatisfied satisfied.... all of you who quote that 90% satisfied number, it doesn't mean we are all completely satisfied with the schools.
He could have been fired but
Fri, 02/19/2010 - 09:27 — red_balloonHe could have been fired but he wasn't. Which would mean that the BOE wasn't averse to his continuance had Dr. Burns not so energetically sought to rock the boat. With regard to the 90%, I think you meant 95%. And yes, I am a bit puzzled by that notwithstanding that some posters like Jenman and others felt they had to choose "satisfied" but for reasons totally different from your interpretation.
I think we know what the new majority expected
Fri, 02/19/2010 - 22:31 — festusWhich was for Burns to follow Delaney into retirement or resignation. Otherwise why all the staff bashing in every board meeting since December? It has been hard to watch the new Board undermine staff over and over--you are lying to us about costs for Forest Ridge--you are lying to us about assignment--really painful. This does trickle down, you know. Even if they wanted (and got) Burns to resign, I hope they will quit badgering staff to say only what the Board wants staff to hear.
...
Fri, 02/19/2010 - 08:57 — SideburnsMaking up stats is fun, isn't it? I have no idea how you could even begin to claim that statement.
It Depends on The Stats
Fri, 02/19/2010 - 09:42 — JanisTangoIt's convenient isn't it. It's 95% when it supports their position, but when talking about the election results...that is something totally different.
P.S. For all those that want to slam my comment on the election results. It's called democracy and they won period. If people didn't go vote and they are mad with the results too bad!
I share that perspective.
Fri, 02/19/2010 - 08:41 — woodstockI share that perspective. Apparently his professionalism was conditional...which leads one to wonder if was just a facade to begin with.
“Del Burns has served this
Fri, 02/19/2010 - 07:27 — Duhhuh666“Del Burns has served this system with distinction and honor and integrity. To think that that we would treat him with any less than that in terms of respect is ridiculous and preposterous.”
Really? Is he acting that way now? Reassign him! He has made it clear to everyone he is not going to cooperate. Reassign him to the worst job in the school district.
“Del Burns has served this
Fri, 02/19/2010 - 07:27 — Duhhuh666“Del Burns has served this system with distinction and honor and integrity. To think that that we would treat him with any less than that in terms of respect is ridiculous and preposterous.”
Really? Is he acting that way now? Reassign him! He has made it clear to everyone he is not going to cooperate. Reassign him to the worst job in the school district.