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St. Vrain board approves superintendent retirement agreement, opens internal search
Summary
The St. Vrain Valley School District board recognized Superintendent Don Haddad's 16 years of service, approved his retirement agreement, and authorized an internal search for his successor with a $275,000–$375,000 salary range and a timeline through late May.
The St. Vrain Valley School District No. Re1J Board of Education on April 16 approved a retirement agreement for Superintendent Don Haddad and directed an internal search for his replacement.
Board President Karen Ragland opened the discussion by reviewing Haddad’s 16 years with the district and the circumstances that accompanied his hiring, including a prior financial emergency. Ragland said Haddad “provided stability for staff and teachers through compassionate leadership” and noted achievements the board attributed to his tenure, including multiple bond measures and competitive grants she said totaled more than $75 million. The board also cited a $739,000,000 bond passage that passed with 74% support and named Haddad’s role in bringing a $16,600,000 grant in 2010 that helped create the district’s innovation center.
After the recognition, the board voted to approve the superintendent’s retirement agreement as presented. The board record states the performance payment referenced in the discussion is drawn from language in the existing superintendent contract and that the funds are “already allotted for payment and earmarked as identified expense within the district’s general fund.” The agreement passed on a unanimous recorded vote of the seven board members present.
Haddad spoke briefly during the meeting, thanking the board and staff and saying, “We do what’s best for our students. We do what’s best for our teachers and our staff and our community.”
Board members then discussed the process for filling the vacancy under board policy CBB. The board approved conducting an internal search first; if no qualified internal candidate is identified, the board may broaden the search, form an advisory committee, or hire a consultant, consistent with policy language the board cited. The board adopted three amendments and timeline details in motions that passed unanimously:
• The superintendent job description (board policies CBA/CBC cited by staff) will be amended to include the district mission, vision and strategic priorities.
• The salary range for the position will be set at $275,000 to $375,000 annually.
• The position will be posted to internal candidates on April 17, 2025, with a closing date of May 1, 2025; interviews of qualified candidates will be scheduled the week of May 5; finalists are expected to be announced by May 14; and the board hopes to select a new superintendent at its May 28, 2025 regular meeting. The anticipated start date for the new superintendent is July 1, 2025.
The board also specified application requirements and submission instructions: internal applicants should submit a resume, cover letter, and a document setting out the candidate’s vision for the district, along with any letters of reference. Applications may be submitted to Board President Karen Ragland by mail (395 South Pratt Parkway, Longmont, CO 80501) or, preferably, by email to ragland_karen@svvsd.org. The board directed that records submitted by applicants remain confidential until a candidate is designated a finalist.
No board member raised objections on the record to the retirement agreement, the job-description amendment, or the internal-search timeline during the meeting. The board moved immediately from the search-item votes to adjourn the special meeting.
The actions taken at this meeting are administrative and internal to the board’s hiring authority under cited board policies; the board did not adopt any new district-wide policy changes during the session.
