Board likely to spend $250K+ to buy out Anthony's contract

Trustees of Fallbrook Union High School District (FUHSD) are likely to spend in excess of $250,000 out of the district’s general fund in order to buy out the remainder of Superintendent Tom Anthony’s contract, which is in effect through the 2009-2010 school year, based on a decision made Monday night in closed session at a special meeting held in the district’s conference room.

On a teleconference call to Trustee Lynn Colburn in Colorado, board members approved the motion 4-1, with Dennis Allen casting the opposing vote.

“The board has instructed thedistrict’s attorney to pursue a buyout of the superintendent’s contract,” reported Board President Bill O’Connor when he reopened the meeting after the closed session. O’Connor said the board could not comment further.

“In my opinion, the taxpayers’ money can be better spent to benefit the kids and district programs,” said Dennis Allen.

When asked in a telephone interview Tuesday whether he intends to pursue legal action regarding the matter, Anthony replied, “For sure.”

For longtime former board member Jim Hutcherson, the decision by the board to buy out Anthony’s contract does not appear to make much sense.

“That’s a heck of a lot of money to not get along with someone and not to work on some common goals that are agreed upon,” Hutcherson said.

In the 10 years Hutcherson served as a trustee for FUHSD, he says he found Anthony the consummate professional.

“Tom is pretty amiable and willing to work with people on common goals for the district to achieve,” Hutcherson said. “It’s not like there are budget problems or that test scores are really bad. It’s not that he is not performing.”

Hutcherson said that each year he participated in Anthony’s job performance evaluation, he found him “very willing to make adjustments in line with requests.”

“He was always there for us,” Hutcherson said.

When asked if he fell short on designated goals and objectives, Anthony said no.

In the 11 years he has served in the position, Anthony said he was most proud of the accomplishments that have been made in the district’s academic programs.

“The second thing I’m proud of is bringing financial stability to the district in the midst of that whole construction bond issue,” he said. “We have also gone through major cutbacks without eliminating any program and created a district that functions in a very positive manner.”

Anthony said he is also pleased that he was involved in bringing a full complement of technology to the district.

Although Anthony’s remaining time with FUHSD is short, he fully intends to continue his focus on education.

“I plan to keep on working,” he said. “I’m not sure where, and in what capacity, but my ultimate goal is to continue working.”