Brock out, Roederer new interim superintendent at MPCSD

BY KARYN SPORY

Mt. Pleasant News

Wednesday night?s special meeting of the Mt. Pleasant Community School District?s Board of Education may have either seemed like an eventuality or a complete shock. However citizens felt before the meeting, one thing is clear, some residents left with more questions about the newly elected school board than they came in with.

The meeting, which was announced Tuesday afternoon, had three actionable items: to accept or reject interim superintendent Dr. Linda Brock?s resignation, to appoint former superintendent Dr. John Roederer to the interim post, and to approve or reject his contract.

The board approved each actionable item with a 5-1 vote, with board member Regina Erickson being the lone ?nay? vote on Brock?s resignation and Roederer?s appointment and subsequent contract approval. Board member Dave Christensen was absent from the meeting. Brock?s resignation was effective immediately and Roederer?s contract will begin today (Thursday).

In July, the board had approved Brock as the interim superintendent with a 4-3 vote. However, since that time, the board has seen significant turnover, leaving only one member, Erickson, who had approved Brock?s employment.

Board President David McCoid said on Sept. 29, he, as well as board Vice President Karl Braun and board member Joy Cornwell, asked Brock to give her resignation. ?I told Linda on the day that we met that our decision had nothing to do with her competency or performance on the job. It is simply that, I believe, the majority of this board wants John Roederer to be the interim superintendent and feels he should have been appointed in July and we wanted to make that possible,? he explained.

The idea to ask Brock to resign came over a month before their meeting in September. McCoid said on Aug. 23, prior to the school board elections, three current school board members met with three of the four school board candidates. ?Many topics were discussed at that meeting, including whether or not we wanted Linda to continue as interim superintendent,? he said.

Under the State of Iowa open meetings law, a meeting is defined as a ?gathering in person or by electronic means, formal or informal, of a majority of the members of a governmental body where there is deliberation or action upon any matter within the scope of the governmental body?s policy-making duties.? Since only three of the seven-seated board members were present, the meeting did not violate any open meetings laws.

?I believe there has been absolutely nothing transparent about this decision,? said Erickson. Erickson went on to say no invitation was extended to the rest of the board to meet with Brock, as that would have likely caused a quorum.

?I also feel that in respect (to the past board), a decision was made? according to our code of ethics, we accept those decisions and we move forward,? she said, noting she has heard nothing but praise for the job Brock had done during her brief tenure.

Erickson also questioned the legality of asking Brock to leave due to not having a 30-day notice.

Ed Chabal, director of business and finance and board secretary, said since Brock was asked to resign immediately, she was paid for the 30-days she would have needed in her notice as part of her settlement agreement.

The settlement states, ?The District agrees to properly pay Superintendent for any of her accrued compensation, and benefits, the Superintendent?s last working day: Wednesday, Oct. 7, 2015.?

In addition, the District agrees to pay the Superintendent as follows:

? $31,380 (60 days pay X 523 per diem)

? $6,799 (13 days vacation X 523 per diem)

? Accrued pay and fringe benefits as stated above)

? Payment to Brock?s attorney for fees in the amount of $1,500

? Final settlement paid in December 2015

As for Roederer?s willingness to take the post, McCoid said he had had many conversations with the former superintendent and he would be willing to take the offer. When Brock was selected in July, the official motion to approve her allowed the school board to pitch the job to Roederer if she declined.

McCoid said he had drawn up Roederer?s contract, to which he had already signed. The contract would mirror Brock?s, in that he would be offered $136,000 a year, which would be pro-rated. Roederer would also receive vacation and sick time, however, unlike Brock?s contract, he would not receive compensation for any unused time.

During the meeting, the floor was open to citizens for comment. Diana Juntenen spoke, voicing her support of Roederer. ?I worked under John for many years and I feel his familiarity with the district will enable him to lead the staff the remainder of the year,? she said.

Jason Johnston felt differently.

?The first question I have is why remove Linda?? asked Johnston. ?She was brought in as an interim (superintendent) and has done absolutely nothing wrong.?

Johnston, who asked to speak about items five through seven on the agenda ? the resignation of Brock, the appointment of Roederer and approval of Roederer?s contract ? then asked how all of this could have taken place without a meeting.

?We haven?t had a meeting since Sept. 21, since you were sworn in, when was this decision made? Why wasn?t there a meeting for this?? he asked.

Johnston went on to ask if there was no meeting, how Roederer?s contract was drawn up and negotiated.

?I question his (Roederer) decision making,? said Johnston. ?Is it going to be for the school and the students or is it going to be for the teacher?s associations and the SOS (Save our Schools, a citizen group) committee??

Johnston ended his allotted three-minute speaking time by reminding the board of the school?s mission statement, that the foundation of their decision making process is to be weighed by what is best for the students. ?This whole board meeting tonight has absolutely nothing to do with students. This is a personal agenda,? he said.

The next meeting of the Mt. Pleasant School Board will meet on Monday, Oct. 12, at 6 p.m., in the high school media center.