Editor’s note: The following message was received from Kyrene Governing Board President Bernadette Coggins at 5:16 p.m. Monday, March 21, after we had left for the day. The text of Coggins’ message is posted here in its unedited entirety. We will continue to keep you updated.
A message from the Kyrene Governing Board
March 21, 2016
Late last week, Dr. David Schauer announced to the Kyrene staff and community that March 17, 2016, was to be his last day in the District Office and that he would be completing his tenure as our Superintendent by using all of his accrued vacation through the end of his contact on June 30, 2016. He further stated that the Board had directed him to use these vacation days within his contract term and that the Board believed that this was in the best interests of the District. This is all factually correct information.
These communications from Dr. Schauer have resulted in the perception among some members of the Kyrene staff and the community that the Board “forced” this decision on Dr. Schauer. This is not the case. We feel it important to address this issue so that further speculation can be avoided.
In his message to Kyrene staff, Dr. Schauer expressed his surprise that the Board had directed his use of accrued vacation days within the contract term. While we have no basis to question Dr. Schauer’s statement, we do question the basis for that surprise. Dr. Schauer’s Superintendent Employment contracts have always included a provision calling for ‘in contract’ vacation use. This provision is commonly found in Superintendent’s contracts and the Board’s directive on his vacation use was not meant to be anything more than simple contractual compliance. Any interpretation by Dr. Schauer, by any District employee or by any community member to the contrary would be incorrect. Dr. Schauer never questioned this clause, which is similar and consistent with District policies relating to the use of accrued vacation time prior to separation from the District. Nor did he inquire about the Board’s intentions regarding the use of his vacation. Had he done so, the Board would have discussed and clarified its intentions long ago.
The Board was equally surprised when Dr. Schauer elected to use his ACA (sick/personal leave) days within the contract term, in addition to the accrued vacation days. This resulted in his leaving the District earlier than the use of only his accrued vacation days would have allowed. Much as the use of vacation days is a contractual Board option, the ‘in-contract’ use of ACA days is a Superintendent option. The Board gave Dr. Schauer the option of choosing when to use his accrued vacation days. A March departure was never directed or anticipated by the Board.
The Board joins all of you in expressing gratitude to Dr. Schauer for his 20 years of service to the District. We wish him only the best, professionally and personally, in his future endeavors.
It is now time to focus on the immediate task of identifying and hiring our next Superintendent. The Board is very excited for key stakeholders representing staff, students, parents and community members to meet the finalists next week, and we are optimistic that we will find the right leader for Kyrene among the four selected for interviews. If there was ever a time to come together as “One Team”, it is now. We value the highly-qualified and exceptional teachers, administrators and staff who work every day to provide each and every student with the best learning experience possible. And, we appreciate the ongoing support of our community to our schools. We need to work together to ensure a smooth transition and moving ahead on improving student learning and achievement—the focus of all that we do in Kyrene.
Please feel free to contact any of us if you have any questions or comments to share.
