The Liberty Elementary School District Governing Board voted 3-1 on Oct. 8 to issue a unilateral termination notice to interim superintendent Trevor McDonald and authorized the board president to sign any necessary documents.

The board first met in executive session under Arizona law to receive legal advice on the interim superintendent contract and to consult with attorneys about contracts subject to negotiation or potential litigation. President Michael Todd said the session addressed the district’s position regarding the contract and related settlement discussions.

Vice President Kenyon, who moved the termination action, told the board he believed there were sufficient grounds to terminate for cause but favored unilateral termination with a 30-day notice to avoid the expense of a formal hearing officer process: “saving a lot of money, a lot of taxpayer dollars, and money that our district needs, I think it's important that we go this route and provide the 30 days and do the unilateral elimination.” President Todd said he agreed and called unilateral termination “absolutely the best interest of the district and of the taxpayers money.”

The motion to issue notice and authorize the president to sign passed with three votes in favor and one opposed. The board did not place further details of the charges or the content of the notice in the public motion. Board members stated they had discussed the legal basis for termination during the executive session prior to the public vote.

The district did not provide additional information during the meeting about next steps for filling the superintendent role or about any severance or contract-termination costs beyond the board’s statement that the unilateral route was chosen in part to limit hearing and legal costs.