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New superintendent selected for FUHSD

The governing board of the Fallbrook Union High School District (FUHSD) announced July 29 that a contractual agreement has been reached with Dale Mitchell, EdD, to assume the role of superintendent for the district beginning September 1.

The selection of Mitchell to replace former superintendent Tom Anthony, whose contract was bought out early by the board majority, brings costs associated with the board’s action to change superintendents to more than $471,690.

One sign of the district’s current financial state is the fact that more than 25 classes have been cut from Fallbrook High School’s 2008-2009 schedule, administrators say.

Anthony’s “negotiated resignation” amounted to a buyout agreement that paid him 18 months of salary plus health and other benefits through June 2010, which is when his contract would have ended.

The buyout also included $22,731 for 30 days of unused vacation time, $9,000 for 18 months of automobile allowance and $7,200 for 18 months of expense allowance.

Attorneys’ fees charged to the district for handling issues related to the buyout were not available.

Anthony had served as superintendent for more than 10 years and was credited with significantly improving the district’s financial condition during his tenure.

The board of trustees approved Anthony’s buyout in late 2007 in a split vote, with Fallbrook High School Teacher’s Association (union) sympathizers Bill O’Connor, Mike Schulte and Marc Steffler approving the buyout and Lynn Colburn and Dennis Allen opposing it.

The board never disclosed any specific tasks or goals in which Anthony’s performance fell short, lending credence to rumors that he was removed because he was disliked by certain union members.

At the time of the buyout, board member Colburn said, “There is absolutely no legitimate cause [to do this].”

After the vote, Colburn forecast troubled financial times for the district due to the expenditure, saying, “We are going to have to cut programs. With this additional expense, I’m concerned about continuing to provide quality programs for the students.”

Allen concurred, saying, “The money has to come from somewhere.”

The board of trustees voted to pay $20,000 to the California School Board Association to conduct a search for a new superintendent.

To date, three of the four board members who paid a visit to the school district from which Mitchell hails (during the final decision process) have turned in expense reimbursement requests totaling $956.

The length of the contract given to Mitchell is three years and includes an annual salary of $170,000, an annual car allowance of $6,000, a full benefits package, certain expenses and up to $10,000 in moving costs.

Mitchell, reportedly 56, currently lives in the Sacramento area, where he has served as superintendent for seven years in the Winters Joint Union School District, a rural K-12 school district that serves approximately 1,800 students, slightly more than half the size of FUHSD’s student population.

Educated at the University of Southern California, Mitchell grew up in Carlsbad, an acquaintance said, and was likely interested in the Fallbrook position due to its proximity to his childhood home.

O’Connor was excited at the prospect of getting a new superintendent and said he feels that Mitchell will make a great addition to the district.

Dr. Robert French has served as interim superintendent for the district since Anthony’s departure in January and will continue until Mitchell’s arrival September 1.

From January through July, the district has paid $99,000 in salary and other payroll expenses relating to French.

With the search for a new superintendent now at an end, French said he is pleased with the district’s choice.

“I believe the district’s students’ and staff’s best interests were taken into consideration and the board has made a selection that will allow benefit to all,” he said.

Village News writer Andrea Verdin contributed to this article.

To comment on this article online, visit http://www.thevillagenews.com.

Costs associated with FUHSD changing superintendents

Anthony’s contract buyout

$280,731.06 – 18 months salary (paid in monthly installments through July 11, 2009)

$6,600.00 – Health benefit payments January-June 2008 (can continue under agreement through June 30, 2010)

$9,000.00 – 18 months automobile allowance

$7,200 – 18 months expense allowance

$15,154 – 20 days paid vacation

$22,731.30 – Additional 30 days of paid vacation

*Unknown – Attorney’s fees

Subtotal: $341,416.36 (plus unknown above)

Cost of search for new superintendent

$20,000 – Fee paid to California School Board Association to conduct search for candidates to consider for the position

$1,274 – Airfare, car rental, meal costs for four board members to make site visit to candidate’s current school district in Sacramento area (approx.)

Subtotal: $21,274

Related costs

$99,000 – Cost of interim superintendent (salary, etc.) January-July 2008

$10,000 – Cost to relocate new superintendent

Subtotal: $109,000

TOTAL: $471,690.36

 

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