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Crook County School District board approves 12‑month superintendent separation; delegates interim contract talks
Summary
The Crook County School district board approved a separation agreement described by board members as roughly a 12‑month severance package and delegated a board member to negotiate a possible interim superintendent contract with Acting Superintendent Dr. Joel Hoff.
The Crook County School District Board of Trustees voted to approve a separation agreement with the district superintendent and later delegated a board member to negotiate a potential interim superintendent contract with Acting Superintendent Dr. Joel Hoff.
Board member Anna told the board an agreed document had been sent for review and approval and that she and an outside attorney had supported the process while board member Steve Holiday conducted negotiations. Board members described the final agreement as “basically a 12‑month severance package.”
The board approved the separation agreement by roll call, with Board Member Scott voting yes, Board Member Steve Holiday voting yes, and the third board member voting yes as well.
Why it matters: Approving the separation agreement finalizes the district’s immediate leadership change and clarifies the board’s next steps to secure interim leadership while the district completes a process to fill two forthcoming board vacancies.
Board members thanked Holiday for negotiating and also offered public comments expressing regret about how the prior superintendent, Dr. Skinner, left the district. One board member said Dr. Skinner “came in with great promise” and expressed appreciation for staff who worked through the transition.
On a separate motion later in the meeting, the board voted to delegate one board member to negotiate a potential interim superintendent contract. The motion named Board Member Steve Holiday as the board’s designee to negotiate a draft contract with Dr. Joel Hoff and directed the district’s legal and business officers to support Holiday in that work. The motion passed on a roll call vote with the same three yes votes.
The board discussed timing for presenting a draft contract. Members said they would prefer to have a draft for consideration at the board’s regular February meeting on Feb. 10 if a draft could be completed in time; if not, the board said it would consider the contract at a special meeting called to coincide with appointment of new board members from Zone 1 and Zone 3.
The board also discussed whether an open recruitment was required to name an interim superintendent. A district staff member (Melinda) advised the board that an open HR recruitment was not required for an interim appointment. The board still decided to delegate a member to negotiate the interim contract rather than conduct full negotiation in public session.
Next steps: The board’s designee will work with district legal and business staff to produce a draft interim superintendent contract for board consideration at the February meeting or a special meeting tied to the appointment of new board members.
Ending: Board members closed the meeting with expressions of hope for a smoother transition ahead and appreciation for staff who remained through the change.
