Liberty Elementary board votes 4-1 to terminate interim superintendent contract

The Liberty Elementary Governing Board voted 4-1 Sept. 24 to terminate the district's interim superintendent contract and authorized the board president to sign the termination agreement as discussed in executive session.

The motion, approved after a closed executive session held under Arizona Revised Statutes §38-431.03(A)(3) and (A)(4) for consultation with counsel and to provide instruction to attorneys, directed termination "according to the terms of section D2 with the exception of the waiver of 30 days prior written notice" and authorized the board president to sign the agreement on the district's behalf.

The vote was: Board member Schmidt, aye; Board member Zimmerman, nay; Vice President Kenyon, aye; Board member Scrincioni, aye; President Michael Todd, aye, producing a 4-1 outcome in favor of termination.

Board member Zimmerman explained her no vote after the tally, saying, "I voted nay to terminate Mr. McDonald's contract because I do not believe he acted with any malintention for the district. I think he made student centered decisions. He empowered staff to do their best for students, And I think he clearly understood the role of the board and clearly understood the role of the superintendent and worked to establish those boundaries, to make sure that the district ran smoothly as he was given that role by this board by a 4 to 5 2 0 vote." The board did not reverse the motion following her remarks.

The termination motion followed the executive session called for consultation with counsel regarding resolution of issues relating to the interim superintendent contract and to provide instruction to attorneys concerning contracts that are the subject of negotiation. The motion language and the board's announcement indicate the termination will proceed under the contract's specified section, except as noted for the 30-day notice waiver.

No additional details about severance amounts, the full text of the termination agreement, or the effective date were provided in the public record during the meeting. The board noted the matter had been discussed in the executive session and authorized the president to sign the agreement consistent with that discussion.

The board moved next to an item authorizing legal action to self-report potential procurement and open-meeting law issues to state authorities, and members discussed follow-up agenda items including a potential self-report of a land resolution and a review of FY25 procurement files.

The board adjourned at 6:56 p.m.