ACPS Superintendent Resigns

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Let's get back to Hutchings. I think he was fired. Why else would he be receiving severance?

Can someone post the link to the separation agreement - I am bad at goggling.

It's under the Board Meeting for June 10, 2022
https://alexandriapublic.ic-board.com/attachments/c7742bf2-144d-454c-b9f3-07467530ddde.pdf

I do not think the terms of the agreement on their face provide a basis to conclude the School Board fired Hutchings. I would guess the School Board agreed to the severance in exchange for the some of obligations put on Hutchings in the agreement such as the cooperation clause as to questions after he leaves his job.

Also, if he was fired why was Meagan Alderton praising him so? She was practically gushing. And if the School Board fired him, why allow him to stay on for two-plus months? That doesn't make sense.

Here's the renewed contract from June 2021:
https://alexandriapublic.ic-board.com/attachments/87af16a5-06c6-4451-8a17-eb00b284e8aa.pdf

"If the Division Superintendent resigns for any reason other than retirement, or is discharged by the Board for cause as described in Article IX, then no payments for unused sick leave or vacation leave, will be made."

Hmmm.

But there is a seperate paragraph the June 2021 agreement that provides for mural termination of the agreement (IX(b)) upon terms agreed upon by the parties. That is what happened here (although the severance agreement does not cite that provision, I think the recitals are referencing it).

I think that's right, because the contract requires him to provide 90 days notice and June 10th to August 31st is not 90 days. Seems like the Mutual Agreement provision, in which case I still don't understand why they agreement to pay him unused sick leave and vacation on top of severance.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Let's get back to Hutchings. I think he was fired. Why else would he be receiving severance?

Can someone post the link to the separation agreement - I am bad at goggling.

It's under the Board Meeting for June 10, 2022
https://alexandriapublic.ic-board.com/attachments/c7742bf2-144d-454c-b9f3-07467530ddde.pdf

I do not think the terms of the agreement on their face provide a basis to conclude the School Board fired Hutchings. I would guess the School Board agreed to the severance in exchange for the some of obligations put on Hutchings in the agreement such as the cooperation clause as to questions after he leaves his job.

Also, if he was fired why was Meagan Alderton praising him so? She was practically gushing. And if the School Board fired him, why allow him to stay on for two-plus months? That doesn't make sense.

Here's the renewed contract from June 2021:
https://alexandriapublic.ic-board.com/attachments/87af16a5-06c6-4451-8a17-eb00b284e8aa.pdf

"If the Division Superintendent resigns for any reason other than retirement, or is discharged by the Board for cause as described in Article IX, then no payments for unused sick leave or vacation leave, will be made."

Hmmm.

But there is a seperate paragraph the June 2021 agreement that provides for mural termination of the agreement (IX(b)) upon terms agreed upon by the parties. That is what happened here (although the severance agreement does not cite that provision, I think the recitals are referencing it).

+1. "the Parties mutually have determined that it is in their respective best interests that Dr. Hutchings' tenure as Division Superintendent . . . should conclude prior to the time otherwise prescribed . . . "

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Let's get back to Hutchings. I think he was fired. Why else would he be receiving severance?

Can someone post the link to the separation agreement - I am bad at goggling.

It's under the Board Meeting for June 10, 2022
https://alexandriapublic.ic-board.com/attachments/c7742bf2-144d-454c-b9f3-07467530ddde.pdf

I do not think the terms of the agreement on their face provide a basis to conclude the School Board fired Hutchings. I would guess the School Board agreed to the severance in exchange for the some of obligations put on Hutchings in the agreement such as the cooperation clause as to questions after he leaves his job.

Also, if he was fired why was Meagan Alderton praising him so? She was practically gushing. And if the School Board fired him, why allow him to stay on for two-plus months? That doesn't make sense.

Here's the renewed contract from June 2021:
https://alexandriapublic.ic-board.com/attachments/87af16a5-06c6-4451-8a17-eb00b284e8aa.pdf

"If the Division Superintendent resigns for any reason other than retirement, or is discharged by the Board for cause as described in Article IX, then no payments for unused sick leave or vacation leave, will be made."

Hmmm.

But there is a seperate paragraph the June 2021 agreement that provides for mural termination of the agreement (IX(b)) upon terms agreed upon by the parties. That is what happened here (although the severance agreement does not cite that provision, I think the recitals are referencing it).

I think that's right, because the contract requires him to provide 90 days notice and June 10th to August 31st is not 90 days. Seems like the Mutual Agreement provision, in which case I still don't understand why they agreement to pay him unused sick leave and vacation on top of severance.

June 10 is when it was announced to public, not when he provided notice to the board. I'm sure it was at least 90 days.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Let's get back to Hutchings. I think he was fired. Why else would he be receiving severance?

Can someone post the link to the separation agreement - I am bad at goggling.

It's under the Board Meeting for June 10, 2022
https://alexandriapublic.ic-board.com/attachments/c7742bf2-144d-454c-b9f3-07467530ddde.pdf

I do not think the terms of the agreement on their face provide a basis to conclude the School Board fired Hutchings. I would guess the School Board agreed to the severance in exchange for the some of obligations put on Hutchings in the agreement such as the cooperation clause as to questions after he leaves his job.

Also, if he was fired why was Meagan Alderton praising him so? She was practically gushing. And if the School Board fired him, why allow him to stay on for two-plus months? That doesn't make sense.

Here's the renewed contract from June 2021:
https://alexandriapublic.ic-board.com/attachments/87af16a5-06c6-4451-8a17-eb00b284e8aa.pdf

"If the Division Superintendent resigns for any reason other than retirement, or is discharged by the Board for cause as described in Article IX, then no payments for unused sick leave or vacation leave, will be made."
Hmmm.

"Discharged by the board FOR CAUSE" is a really high bar to cross. Not enough for board to not like his leadership style, it would have to prove failed performance. Makes "mutual agreement" course generally the preferable way to go.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Let's get back to Hutchings. I think he was fired. Why else would he be receiving severance?

Can someone post the link to the separation agreement - I am bad at goggling.

It's under the Board Meeting for June 10, 2022
https://alexandriapublic.ic-board.com/attachments/c7742bf2-144d-454c-b9f3-07467530ddde.pdf

I do not think the terms of the agreement on their face provide a basis to conclude the School Board fired Hutchings. I would guess the School Board agreed to the severance in exchange for the some of obligations put on Hutchings in the agreement such as the cooperation clause as to questions after he leaves his job.

Also, if he was fired why was Meagan Alderton praising him so? She was practically gushing. And if the School Board fired him, why allow him to stay on for two-plus months? That doesn't make sense.

Here's the renewed contract from June 2021:
https://alexandriapublic.ic-board.com/attachments/87af16a5-06c6-4451-8a17-eb00b284e8aa.pdf

"If the Division Superintendent resigns for any reason other than retirement, or is discharged by the Board for cause as described in Article IX, then no payments for unused sick leave or vacation leave, will be made."
Hmmm.

"Discharged by the board FOR CAUSE" is a really high bar to cross. Not enough for board to not like his leadership style, it would have to prove failed performance. Makes "mutual agreement" course generally the preferable way to go.

Right but it also says no payout if he resigns, which is the spin in the media. Definitely mutual agreement, not straight resignation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Let's get back to Hutchings. I think he was fired. Why else would he be receiving severance?

Can someone post the link to the separation agreement - I am bad at goggling.

It's under the Board Meeting for June 10, 2022
https://alexandriapublic.ic-board.com/attachments/c7742bf2-144d-454c-b9f3-07467530ddde.pdf

I do not think the terms of the agreement on their face provide a basis to conclude the School Board fired Hutchings. I would guess the School Board agreed to the severance in exchange for the some of obligations put on Hutchings in the agreement such as the cooperation clause as to questions after he leaves his job.

Also, if he was fired why was Meagan Alderton praising him so? She was practically gushing. And if the School Board fired him, why allow him to stay on for two-plus months? That doesn't make sense.

Here's the renewed contract from June 2021:
https://alexandriapublic.ic-board.com/attachments/87af16a5-06c6-4451-8a17-eb00b284e8aa.pdf

"If the Division Superintendent resigns for any reason other than retirement, or is discharged by the Board for cause as described in Article IX, then no payments for unused sick leave or vacation leave, will be made."
Hmmm.

"Discharged by the board FOR CAUSE" is a really high bar to cross. Not enough for board to not like his leadership style, it would have to prove failed performance. Makes "mutual agreement" course generally the preferable way to go.

Right but it also says no payout if he resigns, which is the spin in the media. Definitely mutual agreement, not straight resignation.

I agree that the contractual provision invoked was the “mutual agreement” language. That does not answer if the termination in fact was Hutchings’ initial decision alone, some kind of mutual decision, or a forced resignation by the Board.

I think the Board gets enough in exchange for its severance payments to suggest this was a mutual agreement in follow up to Hutchings decision to resign (which is the public story). But, it could have been the other two options.

[Anonymous]

So what day would have been 90 days?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So what day would have been 90 days?

June 1st. Like PP I'm curious what triggered this and how it ended up a mutual agreement. We may never know.

[Anonymous]

I don’t understand why his payout of both unused vacation and unused sick time far exceeds their stated limits in his second employment agreement. I mean, only 21 days of sick leave in the contract, but they’re giving him 79, to the tune of almost $40,000? Or why they’re paining four months of COBRA. That’s got to be at least another 10k. Or, ultimately, why someone who is moving on to embrace their true purpose “beyond superintendency” is entitled to severance at all?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don’t understand why his payout of both unused vacation and unused sick time far exceeds their stated limits in his second employment agreement. I mean, only 21 days of sick leave in the contract, but they’re giving him 79, to the tune of almost $40,000? Or why they’re paining four months of COBRA. That’s got to be at least another 10k. Or, ultimately, why someone who is moving on to embrace their true purpose “beyond superintendency” is entitled to severance at all?

The School Board did receive some consideration from Hutchings for those payments: agreement to respond to questions, etc. after his term is up to support the transition to new leadership, agreement not to make disparaging comments against ACPS, etc. The question (which is slightly different than yours), is did the School Board get enough in exchange for the severance. The answer to that question may also depend on whether Hutchings really wanted to leave voluntarily (which no one involved has publicly disputed at this point). More digging on this is warranted.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don’t understand why his payout of both unused vacation and unused sick time far exceeds their stated limits in his second employment agreement. I mean, only 21 days of sick leave in the contract, but they’re giving him 79, to the tune of almost $40,000? Or why they’re paining four months of COBRA. That’s got to be at least another 10k. Or, ultimately, why someone who is moving on to embrace their true purpose “beyond superintendency” is entitled to severance at all?

The School Board did receive some consideration from Hutchings for those payments: agreement to respond to questions, etc. after his term is up to support the transition to new leadership, agreement not to make disparaging comments against ACPS, etc. The question (which is slightly different than yours), is did the School Board get enough in exchange for the severance. The answer to that question may also depend on whether Hutchings really wanted to leave voluntarily (which no one involved has publicly disputed at this point). More digging on this is warranted.

Interesting but depressing: the payout is so he’s helpful to them as they cope with the situation his premature exit put them in and also to secure a promise not to talk badly about his former employer?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don’t understand why his payout of both unused vacation and unused sick time far exceeds their stated limits in his second employment agreement. I mean, only 21 days of sick leave in the contract, but they’re giving him 79, to the tune of almost $40,000? Or why they’re paining four months of COBRA. That’s got to be at least another 10k. Or, ultimately, why someone who is moving on to embrace their true purpose “beyond superintendency” is entitled to severance at all?

The School Board did receive some consideration from Hutchings for those payments: agreement to respond to questions, etc. after his term is up to support the transition to new leadership, agreement not to make disparaging comments against ACPS, etc. The question (which is slightly different than yours), is did the School Board get enough in exchange for the severance. The answer to that question may also depend on whether Hutchings really wanted to leave voluntarily (which no one involved has publicly disputed at this point). More digging on this is warranted.

Interesting but depressing: the payout is so he’s helpful to them as they cope with the situation his premature exit put them in and also to secure a promise not to talk badly about his former employer?

That’s how I read the contract. Others might have a different interpretation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Let's get back to Hutchings. I think he was fired. Why else would he be receiving severance?

Can someone post the link to the separation agreement - I am bad at goggling.

It's under the Board Meeting for June 10, 2022
https://alexandriapublic.ic-board.com/attachments/c7742bf2-144d-454c-b9f3-07467530ddde.pdf

I do not think the terms of the agreement on their face provide a basis to conclude the School Board fired Hutchings. I would guess the School Board agreed to the severance in exchange for the some of obligations put on Hutchings in the agreement such as the cooperation clause as to questions after he leaves his job.

Also, if he was fired why was Meagan Alderton praising him so? She was practically gushing. And if the School Board fired him, why allow him to stay on for two-plus months? That doesn't make sense.

Here's the renewed contract from June 2021:
https://alexandriapublic.ic-board.com/attachments/87af16a5-06c6-4451-8a17-eb00b284e8aa.pdf

Alderton has always been pro-Hutchings. I wouldn't be surprised if the rest of the board disagreed with her. Hopefully she will not be re-elected Chair in the fall.

Also there is so much irony in the fact that she talked to the post about Hutchings after all those statements about not talking to the press. Did the school board and ACPS comms approve everything she said?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Let's get back to Hutchings. I think he was fired. Why else would he be receiving severance?

Can someone post the link to the separation agreement - I am bad at goggling.

It's under the Board Meeting for June 10, 2022
https://alexandriapublic.ic-board.com/attachments/c7742bf2-144d-454c-b9f3-07467530ddde.pdf

I do not think the terms of the agreement on their face provide a basis to conclude the School Board fired Hutchings. I would guess the School Board agreed to the severance in exchange for the some of obligations put on Hutchings in the agreement such as the cooperation clause as to questions after he leaves his job.

Also, if he was fired why was Meagan Alderton praising him so? She was practically gushing. And if the School Board fired him, why allow him to stay on for two-plus months? That doesn't make sense.

Here's the renewed contract from June 2021:
https://alexandriapublic.ic-board.com/attachments/87af16a5-06c6-4451-8a17-eb00b284e8aa.pdf

Alderton has always been pro-Hutchings. I wouldn't be surprised if the rest of the board disagreed with her. Hopefully she will not be re-elected Chair in the fall.

Also there is so much irony in the fact that she talked to the post about Hutchings after all those statements about not talking to the press. Did the school board and ACPS comms approve everything she said?

Kind of surprised she’s such fan given that his departure after only 4 years contributes to one of public schools’ “greatest challenges”:
“One of the greatest challenges in today’s public schools in general is what I call the revolving door. We really reached a critical juncture in which we can’t even expect and plan to our support personnel — teachers, principals, leadership, superintendents… To not stick around for at least five years is devastating to our potential for progress.”
https://www.alxnow.com/2021/09/28/school-board-chair-meagan-alderton-says-acps-leadership-will-be-challenged-by-high-board-turnover/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Let's get back to Hutchings. I think he was fired. Why else would he be receiving severance?

Can someone post the link to the separation agreement - I am bad at goggling.

It's under the Board Meeting for June 10, 2022
https://alexandriapublic.ic-board.com/attachments/c7742bf2-144d-454c-b9f3-07467530ddde.pdf

I do not think the terms of the agreement on their face provide a basis to conclude the School Board fired Hutchings. I would guess the School Board agreed to the severance in exchange for the some of obligations put on Hutchings in the agreement such as the cooperation clause as to questions after he leaves his job.

Also, if he was fired why was Meagan Alderton praising him so? She was practically gushing. And if the School Board fired him, why allow him to stay on for two-plus months? That doesn't make sense.

Here's the renewed contract from June 2021:
https://alexandriapublic.ic-board.com/attachments/87af16a5-06c6-4451-8a17-eb00b284e8aa.pdf

Alderton has always been pro-Hutchings. I wouldn't be surprised if the rest of the board disagreed with her. Hopefully she will not be re-elected Chair in the fall.

Also there is so much irony in the fact that she talked to the post about Hutchings after all those statements about not talking to the press. Did the school board and ACPS comms approve everything she said?

Kind of surprised she’s such fan given that his departure after only 4 years contributes to one of public schools’ “greatest challenges”:
“One of the greatest challenges in today’s public schools in general is what I call the revolving door. We really reached a critical juncture in which we can’t even expect and plan to our support personnel — teachers, principals, leadership, superintendents… To not stick around for at least five years is devastating to our potential for progress.”
https://www.alxnow.com/2021/09/28/school-board-chair-meagan-alderton-says-acps-leadership-will-be-challenged-by-high-board-turnover/

She blames parents for his desire to resign.