Separation agreement is a puzzle (Feb. 3)
By Chuck Doud
The Madera Tribune
The separation agreement between the Madera Unified School District Board of Trustees and Superintendent John Stafford, to paraphrase Winston Churchill describing Russia, is “a riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma.”
If you read about the terms of the agreement on Page 1 of today’s Tribune, you are likely to agree.
It is apparent that the board and Stafford had differences — serious differences, serious enough to make the board want to send Stafford down the road five months early. He was, after all, scheduled to retire at the end of June. Or it could have been Stafford who wanted to go, and he arm-twisted the board for all he could get. Either way, or any way, the agreement makes little sense unless the differences were profound.
Naturally, rumors of what caused the rift and the early separation are running rampant. But that always happens when the public’s business is buried in secrecy. The public isn’t stupid. The teachers and classified employees aren’t stupid. And, people are inclined to think the worst if they perceive something has been crafted to cover up a debacle.
For example, the decision to put Stafford on leave until he retires was allegedly to smooth the transition to a new superintendent. Which sounds good on its face. But what does that mean? How will having Stafford out of the building smooth things over for the new school chief? That was never addressed. Was he being disruptive?
On the other hand, the board could have had good reason to treat Stafford compassionately by granting him a paid leave instead of putting him through a dismissal. Perhaps, for some reason over which he had no control, he had lost the board’s confidence.
Meanwhile, the rumors will fly, and neither the board nor Stafford will come out of it well, which is the opposite of what they wanted.
On a related subject, so far the search for a new superintendent is being handled well by the board, and it may be the person chosen will provide the kind of leadership the board wants for its schools.
in regards to Mr Stafford; I believe he should have to report to work just like everyone else, even if he just sits at his desk and play cards or read a magazine, until the end of his contract. Why should he be allowed to relax on the student’s dollar? He can get up, get dressed, and have to sit in his office from 8 – 5, and at least pretend he has the district’s best interest at heart.
What makes anyone think that if the next candidate for superintendent is someone that fits the MUSD board criteria ,that it would be the best fit for the students and the district at large. If you remember, they don’t have a very good track record. Look at what we have now….
People if you are tired of the school board and other politians star voting them out of office or just keep on complaining and things will stay the same and you can continue to complain.